Victims of ISIS rejoice after Baghdadi’s death

Nahla Abdel Moneim

US President Donald Trump has announced the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Families of victims of ISIS, aka Daesh, have voiced joy and rejoiced after Trump’s announcement.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that President Trump called family members of those killed by ISIS, but said they are keeping the details of the conversations private.

Diane Foley, James Foley’s mother, said she was happy for al-Baghdadi’s killing.

“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,” she told the US media.

Sotloff’s parents, Art and Shirley Sotloff, told CBS News they are thankful to Trump, the U.S. Special Forces and all those involved for killing al-Baghdadi.

“While this victory will not bring our beloved Steven back to us, it is a significant step in the campaign against ISIS,” they said. “It is our hope that our son’s surviving captors, nicknamed “the Beatles,” will be brought to justice, that all remaining hostages are returned to safety, and that the United States will take every measure to eliminate the resurgence of ISIS and terror in all forms.”

Trump also called the family of American aid worker Peter Kassig, who was captured by ISIS in 2013 and beheaded a year later.

The operation that resulted in al-Baghdadi’s death was named in Kayla Mueller’s honor.

Mueller, who was kidnapped and taken hostage by ISIS in 2013 while helping Syrian civil war refugees, is credited for saving the lives of other female captives. She was killed in 2015.

Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh of an ISIS cell dubbed “The Beatles” have been moved from a Kurdish jail and into US military custody, President Trump said on October 9.