Former US soldier accused of hiding payments to Syrian terrorists

The woman sent thousands of encrypted messages to the group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham

Abu Mohammed al-Julani said Al-Nusra wants to fight the regime in Syria

Authorities have arrested a New Jersey woman who was formerly an active duty US Army service member on charges that she secretly sent money to a terror group in Syria fighting the Assad regime.

Starting in February of 2017, Maria Bell, 53, allegedly sent thousands of encrypted communications, as well as at least $3150, to a member of the al-Nusra Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a US-designated terror group. Ms Bell, who previously served in the Army and Army National Guard, also allegedly provided advice about weapons and military tactics to the fighter, listed in official documents as “User 1.”

“Bell sent currency to User 1 via Western Union, using an intermediary to conceal the source of the funds, and also provided him advice on weapons and ammunition,” according to a release from the New Jersey US Attorney’s Office.

The US attorney’s office released selected excerpts of the communications between Ms Bell and User 1, which capture the two of them encouraging each other.

In one message, Ms Bell laments that if Syrian president Bashar al-Assad hangs onto power, mujahideen guerrilla fighters like the al-Nusra Front might be persecuted, and she wouldn’t be able to visit User 1.  

“If Assad wins, mujahideen will be persecuted again,” and “If Assad wins, I cannot get a visa into Syria. I cannot come to you.”

In the same communication, she asks User 1 if he’s ready to fight, writing, “Are you ready to fight in front line with other fighters? You are no longer young child like you used to be,” and adds, “It will be frightening. But I am with you.”

In another set of messages, User 1 muses about an attack on New York, but Ms Bell warns against it.  

“If you want to hit the Syrian airports, we will return to revenge within New York,” the fighter allegedly said.

“If there were ever an attack in New York, all Muslims and helpers like me will be arrested,” Ms Bell responded.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Syria has been at war since 2011, following Arab Spring protests calling for Mr Assad’s overthrow. Fighting has died down as the strongman has cemented his grip on the country, but more than six million refugees have fled Syria, while more than half the country’s pre-war population has been displaced.