Relieved mother of James Foley reveals Trump phoned her after the al-Baghdadi raid

James Foley’s mother has said that President Trump phoned her after the Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi raid that killed the ISIS leader to personally inform her the terror leader was dead.

Diane Foley revealed that she was grateful for that ‘kindness’ from Trump and also for ‘finding Baghdadi’ so that he could authorize the Delta Force mission that killed him on Sunday.

Foley said that while she appreciated the bravery of the  American troops that conducted the daring airborne assault, she would have preferred if Baghdadi had been taken alive and returned to a US court.

‘I’m hopeful that his demise will be a huge blow to the regrouping of ISIS. However, we need to continue to be very vigilant because they certainly want to regroup and bring back their reign of terror, but I’m very, very grateful,’ said Diane Foley to CNN.  

Relief: Diane Foley said that while she had wanted al-Baghdadi to be arrested and brought to justice, she was grateful that he was dead 

James Foley's mother continued that she prays 'captured ISIS fighters will be brought to trial & held accountable'. US Journalist James Foley on video August 2014 before he is beheaded

James Foley’s mother continued that she prays ‘captured ISIS fighters will be brought to trial & held accountable’. US Journalist James Foley on video August 2014 before he is beheaded

The president said Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (pictured in April) had been cornered by US Special Ops forces in his hideout in northwest Syria and detonated his suicide vest, killing himself

The president said Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (pictured in April) had been cornered by US Special Ops forces in his hideout in northwest Syria and detonated his suicide vest, killing himself

John Foley, Diane’s husband, also spoke to WMUR-TV and said that the war on ISIS must continue.

‘I believe ISIS is like grass,’ said Foley said. ‘You mow it, but it continues to grow. And I don’t think that the elimination of al-Baghdadi is the final answer.’

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed by an American Delta Force raid in the north of Syria, four miles from the Turkish border on Sunday following a five year hunt. 

On Sunday, following the announcement of the raid, Diane Foley tweeted in a statement via the James Foley Foundation page: ‘I am grateful to our President and brave troops for finding ISIS leader al-Baghdadi. I hope this will hinder the resurgence of terror groups and pray that captured ISIS fighters will be brought to trial and held accountable.’

The statement continued: ‘I remain concerned about the dozen Americans held hostage in Syria, including Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz.’ 

The president touted the operation and al-Baghdadi’s death as ‘bigger than bin Laden.’ 

Osama bin Laden, founder of Al-Qaeda and the terrorist leader behind the September 11 terrorist attacks, was killed in 2011 during a Navy SEALs operation during Barack Obama’s presidency.

‘This is the biggest there is. This is the worst ever. Osama bin Laden was big, but Osama bin Laden became big with the World Trade Center. This is a man who built a whole, as he would like to call it, a country,’ Trump said, referencing al-Baghdadi’s creation of the Islamic State.

Diane Foley said on Twitter on Sunday that she hopes 'this will hinder the resurgence of terror groups'

Diane Foley said on Twitter on Sunday that she hopes ‘this will hinder the resurgence of terror groups’

On June 29, 2014, the group released a video showing a man purporting to be al-Baghdadi giving a sermon at a Mosul mosque.

President Barack Obama launched airstrikes against IS beginning that August. He acted after thousands of Iraqi Yazidis, followers of an ancient religion with ties to Zoroastrianism, were targeted by al-Baghdadi’s fighters, and to safeguard U.S. interests, including a consulate in the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital of Irbil.

Islamic State militants responded by beheading Western captives, beginning with freelance American journalist James Foley, and posting their deeds in gruesome online videos.

Pictured, President Trump announces the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Washington DC on Sunday

Pictured, President Trump announces the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Washington DC on Sunday

This November 2012, file photo, posted on the website freejamesfoley.org, shows American journalist James Foley while covering the civil war in Aleppo, Syria

This November 2012, file photo, posted on the website freejamesfoley.org, shows American journalist James Foley while covering the civil war in Aleppo, Syria

This file image made from video posted on a militant website Saturday, July 5, 2014, purports to show the leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, delivering a sermon at a mosque in Iraq during his first public appearance

This file image made from video posted on a militant website Saturday, July 5, 2014, purports to show the leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, delivering a sermon at a mosque in Iraq during his first public appearance

Islamic State militants responded to Obama-led airstrikes in August 2014 by beheading Western captives, beginning with freelance American journalist James Foley. ISIS posted their deeds in gruesome online videos including one seen here featuring Foley in 2014

Islamic State militants responded to Obama-led airstrikes in August 2014 by beheading Western captives, beginning with freelance American journalist James Foley. ISIS posted their deeds in gruesome online videos including one seen here featuring Foley in 2014

Diane Foley asked Trump to prioritize the likes of Majd Kamalmaz

Freelance journalist Austin Tice went missing in Syria in 2012 and has not been heard from since

Diane Foley asked Trump to prioritize the likes of Majd Kamalmaz (left) and freelance journalist Austin Tice (right) went missing in Syria in 2012 and has not been heard from since

Diane Foley asked President Trump to prioritize the 'dozen Americans held hostage in Syria'

Diane Foley asked President Trump to prioritize the ‘dozen Americans held hostage in Syria’

The U.S. and Arab allies eventually expanded the military campaign to target IS fighters with airstrikes in Syria, helping U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters battle the group.

Trump continued his Sunday statement adding that Baghdadi ‘died like a dog’ as the result of a U.S. Special Ops forces raid on his hideout in northwest Syria.

‘Last night the United State brought the world’s number one terrorist leader to justice. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead,’ Trump said from the Diplomatic Reception Room, where just a week earlier he announced a ceasefire between Turkey and the Kurds.

‘He was the founder and leader of ISIS, the most ruthless and violent terror organization anywhere in the world,’ he continued as he described the events of the raid.

‘He died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way. They were led to certain death,’ Trump detailed. ‘He reached the end of the tunnel as our dogs chased him down. He ignited his vest, killing himself and the three children. His body was mutilated by the blast, the tunnel had caved in on it, in addition. 

‘But test results gave certain, immediate and totally positive identification. It was him. The thug who tried so hard to intimidate others spent his last moments in utter fear, in total panic and dread, terrified of the American forces bearing down on him.’   

People look at a destroyed houses near the village of Barisha, in Idlib province, Syria, Sunday

People look at a destroyed houses near the village of Barisha, in Idlib province, Syria, Sunday

A woman checks damage to her home in the village of Barisha, in Idlib province, Syria, Sunday

A woman checks damage to her home in the village of Barisha, in Idlib province, Syria, Sunday

 

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