Cole Bridges, a former US Army scout, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to assist the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in carrying out an ambush on American forces. Bridges, 24, provided tactical guidance to individuals he believed were connected to the terrorist group.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Bridges used his military training to develop plans aimed at attacking fellow US soldiers stationed overseas. He offered specific advice on how ISIS fighters could ambush American troops, including diagrams to maximize the lethality of the attacks.
Bridges pleaded guilty in June 2023 to charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS and attempting to murder US service members. During his sentencing, Bridges expressed deep regret for his actions, even requesting a maximum sentence. “I know what I did was wrong, and I will carry this regret for as long as I live,” he told the court.
US Attorney Damian Williams stated that Bridges’ actions were a betrayal of his duties as a soldier, saying, “Bridges used his training to pursue a horrifying goal: the brutal murder of his fellow service members.” The case highlights the dangerous potential for radicalization within the military.
Bridges’ radicalization began after he was exposed to jihadist propaganda online in 2019. By 2020, he was communicating with an undercover FBI agent posing as an ISIS supporter, providing details on how to fortify ISIS encampments and increase the effectiveness of their attacks against US forces.
In addition to his prison sentence, Bridges will also face 10 years of supervised release after completing his term. This case serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by homegrown extremism and radicalization.
