U.S. citizen receives 10 years for joining ISIS in Syria

In 2015, Lirim Sylejmani, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Kosovo, traveled with his family from Turkey into Syria to join the Islamic State group. Prosecutors reported that Sylejmani actively engaged in military training with ISIS recruits and fought against U.S.-led coalition forces, specifically the Syrian Democratic Forces. Following a period of training that included learning to operate various firearms, he sustained injuries in combat, leading to his reassignment within ISIS. His family was eventually captured in February 2019 and he was transferred to U.S. law enforcement later that year to face charges regarding his actions in Syria. In December 2019, Sylejmani pled guilty to receiving military training from a foreign terrorist organization, resulting in a sentencing of 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. officials expressed the gravity of his actions, emphasizing the dangers posed by individuals who make choices that threaten national security. The case highlighted the complexity of tackling terrorism, particularly involving citizens who become radicalized and engage with extremist organizations abroad. Following his conviction, Sylejmani stated in interviews that the conditions under ISIS were horrific, contradicting their promises of a better life, and he urged others to rethink their involvement with such groups.