ISIS chief who ordered beheading of journalist Jim Foley dies 'like a dog' in U.S. raid

Jim Foley during his days as a freelance overseas war correspondent; inset Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Courtesy photos)

Just a week after the annual James W. Foley Freedom Run, President Trump reported today that the man who was the chief architect of ISIS, the terror group that publicly beheaded Foley in Syria in 2014, was killed in a U.S. Special Forces Raid.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died with three of his children after setting off a suicide vest while being pursued by U.S. forces down a dead-end tunnel at an ISIS compound in Western Syria.

Trump said al-Baghdadi died as a coward, "crying and whimpering," as he ran from the shooting scene with three of his children who also perished.

Trump, speaking from the White House, said two of al-Baghdadi's wives were also found dead still wearing unexploded suicide vests.

No American servicemen or women were killed or wounded in the attack, Trump said during the nationally televised 15-minute speech.

Jim Foley, as he was known by friends and family, was an American photo and news journalist whose August 2014 beheading by ISIS was captured on video and uploaded to the Internet to be seen by a shocked and horrified world.

Foley grew up in Wolfeboro and had ties to Rochester where his parents, Diane and John, still live.

President Trump invoked the name of Jim Foley as he told the nation he'd been looking to take out al-Baghdadi ever since he became president.

"He died like a dog, he died like a coward," Trump said of Baghdadi's final moments. "The world is now a much safer place."

Six to eight helicopters and a large number of Special Forces participated in the raid, which was also made possible with the cooperation of Russia, Turkey and Syria who all allowed U.S. aircraft to fly over their airspace.

Trump said the Kurds and others also provided intelligence that allowed the mission to be so successful.

He said he'd be calling the Foleys at their Rochester home later today.

Meanwhile, Foley's mother, Diane, said she was grateful that the president and brave U.S. troops brought justice to 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," Foley said in a statement. "I remain concerned about the dozen Americans held hostage in Syria, including Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz. And I ask President Trump to make them, and all American hostages, a priority."