Authorities Arrest Soldier Accused of Trying to Help ISIS Ambush U.S. Troops

A United States Army Private First Class has been charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist group, and attempting to murder U.S. military service members, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced Tuesday.

Both the charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release stated.

The charged 20-year-old, Cole James Bridges, a Stowe, Ohio native, joined the U.S. Army around Sep. 2019 and began researching and consuming online jihadist propaganda, after which he expressed support for ISIS and jihad on social media, according to the DOJ.

#BreakingNews U.S. Army Soldier Arrested For Attempting To Assist ISIS To Conduct Deadly Ambush On U.S. Troops

U.S. Army Private First Class Cole James Bridges Provided Tactical Guidance in Attempt to Help ISIS to Attack U.S. Forces in the Middle East https://t.co/PmpRyMr6OO

— Army Counterintelligence (@Real_ArmyCI) January 19, 2021

Bridges then began interacting with an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employee, posing as an ISIS supporter in touch with ISIS fighters in the Middle East, around Oct. 2020.

During those interactions, he expressed frustration with the U.S. military and his desire to assist ISIS, the DOJ reported.

FT. STEWART SOLDIER CHARGED IN TERROR PLOT: Authorities say Cole James Bridges, 20, thought he was providing ISIS information to help kill U.S. forces. He didn't know he was actually communicating with an undercover FBI agent. >>> More: https://t.co/IfsS13701c pic.twitter.com/oPg78NRmvJ

— WJCL News (@WJCLNews) January 19, 2021