Mother of journalist killed by ISIS shares concerns about U.S. troops leaving Iraq
By Maria Wilson, Nicole Poitras
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MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (WMUR) — As the last U.S. troops left Iraq Wednesday, the mother of a journalist and New Hampshire native killed by ISIS shared her concerns about the move with News 9.
The withdrawal ends a 12-year mission in the region and marks the second pull-out since the United States overthrew and captured Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Diane Foley’s son, James, was the first American killed by ISIS. She tells News 9 that she worries with the last troops leaving Iraq, it will only become more dangerous for those reporting or doing humanitarian work in the country.
James Foley was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 and killed by ISIS in 2014.
“I am just concerned that [the withdrawal] will allow insurgencies and various radical groups who want to take advantage of the looser, less security, to take over and to target innocent people working for the good of the people of Iraq,” Diane Foley said.
On Wednesday, President Trump praised the move, which follows a 2024 agreement reached by the Biden administration.
“This day is a victory for the United States,” Trump said. “It’s a victory for Iraq and a decisive victory over ISIS which has been completely decimated.”
In the wake of her son’s death, Foley created a foundation to advocate for American hostages.
Foley said Wednesday’s development in the Middle East will not change her organization’s work or their mission.
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