Cole Bridges, a 24-year-old former Army scout, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for attempting to assist ISIS in planning an ambush on US soldiers. Bridges, who was stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, had communicated with an undercover FBI agent posing as an ISIS supporter, providing detailed military advice on how to attack US forces in the Middle East.
Bridges’ radicalization began in 2019 after he was exposed to extremist content online. By late 2020, he was actively planning to help ISIS ambush US soldiers, giving the agent advice on how to maximize casualties during an attack. In January 2021, Bridges recorded a video of himself in Army body armor, standing in front of an ISIS flag, expressing support for the terrorist group.
Bridges pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to provide material support to ISIS and attempting to murder US military personnel. He expressed deep regret for his actions, even requesting a 40-year sentence during his court appearance. “I know what I did was wrong,” he said, adding that he would carry the regret for the rest of his life.
US Attorney Damian Williams condemned Bridges’ actions, noting that the soldier used his Army training to plot attacks on the very troops he was tasked with protecting. The FBI’s operation stopped the plot before it could be carried out, but the case underscores the threat posed by homegrown radicalization.
Bridges will face 10 years of supervised release following his 14-year prison sentence, bringing closure to a case that raised concerns about extremism within the US military.
