Story by Jillian Butler.
A United States Navy sailor was among three men in San Diego arrested for an alleged plot to aid ISIS in targeting American servicemembers overseas. Among the proposed targets were members of the U.S. Special Forces.
25-year-old Bereen Dzayee of the San Diego township, Lakeside, along with 21-year-old Bisaam Ghafoor of Leawood, Kansas, and 21-year-old Elias Shamsaldeen of Porterville, California were arrested as part of a multistate investigation. According to the United States Department of Justice, the three individuals were apprehended for, “conspiring to provide material support to terrorism after collectively providing over $2,000 to an individual they understood to be a member of ISIS.”
This money was intended to buy rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for attacks. According to the complaint, originally filed in Kansas, the perpetrators began communication in February 2025. FBI Director Kash Patel stated: “These subjects allegedly swore allegiance to ISIS, plotted multiple attacks, and even targeted U.S. service members…” Using Discord chats, social media groups, voice calls, and other messaging platforms, the three discussed multiple plots to support the Islamic State via the provision of personnel, services, and money.
The chats were gruesome. Dzayee suggested that the drones be used to target American special operations members. Ghafoor claimed that it would be “sick” to have his name written on an RPG. He additionally fantasized about beheading a female servicemember and said, “I wish I could kill 300,000,000 Americans.” The three men explicitly communicated their desires to travel outside of the United States to fight for ISIS. In some chats, they even mentioned a willingness to die for ISIS.
Prosecutors have not confirmed the details of Bereen Dzayee’s military status. However, his social media had multiple posts of him wearing a United States Navy uniform. Both neighbors and a former classmate confirmed that he was in the Navy. Lakeside is a tightly-knit suburban community inhabited by many servicemembers and their families. Dzayee’s reclusive nature stuck out to his neighbors. One stated, “He doesn’t really speak to folks around here, which is, again, unusual for this neighborhood”.
The charges against Dzayee, Ghafoor, and Shamsaldeen remain allegations, and all three are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, however, the case would represent yet another reminder that the threat posed by extremist organizations is present on the homefront. Increasingly, the front lines of counterterrorism run through online chat rooms, encrypted apps, and, at times, uncomfortably close to home.
This is not the only recent instance of an American servicemember affiliating with ISIS in an attempt to harm other servicemembers. In March 2026, former Virginia Army National Guard member, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh opened fire on an ROTC class at Old Dominion University, shouting “Allah Akbar”. Students fought back, with one fatally stabbing him using a Swiss Army knife. One instructor was killed.
San Diego serves as a major hub for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Special Operations communities. Thousands of active-duty servicemembers and veterans live throughout the county, including in communities such as Lakeside. The prospect of a servicemember allegedly supporting a foreign terrorist organization while discussing attacks on fellow Americans represents a profound breach of trust.
Military organizations have long recognized insider threats as among the most difficult security challenges to identify and prevent. Unlike external adversaries, insiders often possess familiarity with military culture, operational procedures, and the trust of those around them. While such cases remain exceedingly rare compared to the millions of Americans who have served honorably, they carry outsized consequences when they occur.
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About the Author: Jillian Butler is a journalist with a focus on military and veterans, geopolitics, and corruption. She holds a bachelor’s in English and History from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland and a master’s in International Relations with a focus in Security Studies from the University of San Diego. Before committing to a life of journalism, she worked in both academic research and private sector intelligence focusing on Middle Eastern security and the trafficking of drugs, arms, and humans. In a past life, she worked as a surf instructor in Northern Ireland, teaching both Catholic and Protestant children as part of a community bridge building initiative.