Mike Baker

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Welcome back to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin.

What began as conversations in an online forum quickly spiraled into discussions about joining ISIS, then became an alleged plot against American Special Forces, and finally, you've got a former Navy sailor accused of supporting the terrorist organization.

We're learning that an FBI investigation centered on three young men, all in their 20s, spread across California and Kansas.

Boreen Zayee of Lakeside near San Diego, Elias Shamsaldin of California's Central Valley, and Bissam Ghaffour of Leawood, Kansas.

Pentagon officials confirmed that Zayee served in the Navy in 2023 before separating from the service in 2024.

Now, according to federal prosecutors, this wasn't a case involving a single violent statement or an isolated social media post.

The investigation began in May of last year after an unnamed source close to the FBI encountered the trio in an online forum.

Prosecutors say the men believed that they were speaking with an active ISIS member.

Now, that detail becomes important because investigators say the conversations quickly move beyond ideology and turn to weapons attacks and support for the terrorist organization.

According to prosecutors, one of the group's primary targets was to kill American special forces personnel.

Prosecutors say the men discussed acquiring drones, grenades, and rocket-propelled grenades.

Investigators allege Zayi, the former sailor, proposed using drones against special forces, while Shams al-Din allegedly discussed carrying out a knife attack against American servicemen.

Ghaffour allegedly spoke about killing Americans in very graphic and disturbing terms.