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The National
8 hours ago
- General
- The National
US citizen who joined ISIS in Syria sentenced to 10 years in prison
A naturalised US citizen who pleaded guilty to receiving military training from ISIS was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in federal prison. , 49, engaged in at least one battle against US-led forces after he entered Syria in 2015, according to prosecutors. US District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington imposed Sylejmani's prison sentence followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Sylejmani, who was born in Kosovo and moved to Chicago about 25 years ago, pleaded guilty last December to one count of receiving military training from a foreign terrorist organisation. In November 2015, he and his family flew to Turkey and then crossed the border into Syria, where he began training with other ISIS recruits, according to prosecutors. They said he was injured in a battle with Syrian forces in June 2016 and was captured with his family in Baghouz, Syria, in February 2019. "The conduct is far more than a single, impulsive act. He chose to jeopardise the safety of his family by bringing them to a war-torn country to join and take up arms for ISIS," prosecutors wrote. Sylejmani's lawyers say he isn't a 'committed" extremist and doesn't espouse violence. 'He is guilt-ridden for his actions and the harm he has visited on his family, who remain detained in a refugee camp in Syria living under terrible conditions," his lawyers wrote. "He wishes only to complete his time and find his wife and children, so he can live an average law-abiding life with them.'
The Independent
9 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
US citizen who joined Islamic State in Syria is sentenced to 10 years in prison
A naturalized U.S. citizen who pleaded guilty to receiving military training from the Islamic State group was sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison. Lirim Sylejmani, 49, engaged in at least one battle against U.S.-led forces after he entered Syria in 2015, according to prosecutors. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington, D.C., imposed Sylejmani's prison sentence followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Sylejmani, who was born in Kosovo and moved to Chicago roughly 25 years ago, pleaded guilty last December to one count of receiving military training from a foreign terrorist organization. In November 2015, Sylejmani and his family flew to Turkey and then crossed the border into Syria, where he began training with other IS recruits, according to prosecutors. They said he was injured in a battle with Syrian forces in June 2016 and was captured with his family in Baghouz, Syria, in February 2019. "The conduct is far more than a single, impulsive act. He chose to jeopardize the safety of his family by bringing them to a war-torn country to join and take up arms for ISIS," prosecutors wrote. Sylejmani's attorneys say he isn't a 'committed jihadist' and doesn't espouse violence. 'He is guilt ridden for his actions and the harm he has visited on his family, who remain detained in a refugee camp in Syria living under terrible conditions," his lawyers wrote. "He wishes only to complete his time and find his wife and children, so he can live an average law-abiding life with them.'
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- General
- Associated Press
US citizen who joined Islamic State in Syria is sentenced to 10 years in prison
WASHINGTON (AP) — A naturalized U.S. citizen who pleaded guilty to receiving military training from the Islamic State group was sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison. Lirim Sylejmani, 49, engaged in at least one battle against U.S.-led forces after he entered Syria in 2015, according to prosecutors. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington, D.C., imposed Sylejmani's prison sentence followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Sylejmani, who was born in Kosovo and moved to Chicago roughly 25 years ago, pleaded guilty last December to one count of receiving military training from a foreign terrorist organization. In November 2015, Sylejmani and his family flew to Turkey and then crossed the border into Syria, where he began training with other IS recruits, according to prosecutors. They said he was injured in a battle with Syrian forces in June 2016 and was captured with his family in Baghouz, Syria, in February 2019. 'The conduct is far more than a single, impulsive act. He chose to jeopardize the safety of his family by bringing them to a war-torn country to join and take up arms for ISIS,' prosecutors wrote. Sylejmani's attorneys say he isn't a 'committed jihadist' and doesn't espouse violence. 'He is guilt ridden for his actions and the harm he has visited on his family, who remain detained in a refugee camp in Syria living under terrible conditions,' his lawyers wrote. 'He wishes only to complete his time and find his wife and children, so he can live an average law-abiding life with them.'
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Russian strike kills 12 Ukrainian soldiers near front line amid peace talks uncertainty
At least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on the location of a Ukrainian army training unit on Sunday, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Advertisement The strike occurred at 12.50pm, the statement said, emphasising that no formations or mass gatherings of personnel were being held at the time. An investigative commission was created to uncover the circumstances around the attack that led to such a loss in personnel, the statement said. The training unit is located to the rear of the 1,000km active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to strike. Ukraine's forces suffer from manpower shortages and take extra precautions to avoid mass gatherings, as the skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets. 'If it is established that the actions or inaction of officials led to the death or injury of servicemen, those responsible will be held strictly accountable,' the Ukrainian Ground Forces' statement said. A local resident looks out of the window of his flat in a multi-storey residential building, damaged following a Russian drone strike on Kyiv on May 24. Photo: TNS Northern pressure
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Increased military traffic towards Barling expected through end of June
ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) — Military vehicle traffic is expected to increase on Arkansas highways and interstates starting Friday, May 30, and continuing through the end of June. The Arkansas National Guard will be conducting its annual training exercises during this time, according to a news release. Troops will travel from various armories across the state to Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center in Barling. Convoys will consist of large, tactical vehicles that typically move at slower speeds than regular traffic. Multiple Northwest Arkansas cities ranked safest in state This may result in temporary slowdowns, according to the release. For the latest traffic updates, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
