Cole Bridges, a 24-year-old U.S. Army soldier, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State in plotting attacks against American troops and New York City landmarks, including the 9/11 Memorial. Bridges, who joined the Army in September 2019, pleaded guilty to providing material support to a terrorist organization and attempted murder in June 2023. He began engaging with jihadist propaganda before enlisting and communicated with an undercover FBI agent, believing he was in contact with ISIS supporters, offering military advice on attacks. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams described Bridges' actions as a severe betrayal, while the presiding judge acknowledged that Bridges was not a hardened criminal but still needed to be held accountable to deter similar actions by service members. Bridges will also face 10 years of supervised release after completing his prison term. His case highlights the ongoing threat posed by domestic radicalization among military personnel.