Istanbul, 1 May 2023 (dpa/MIA) — Turkey "neutralized" the suspected leader of the extremist militia organization Islamic State during a mission in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claimed on Sunday.

According to state news agency Anadolu, Erdoğan told Turkish broadcaster TRT Turk the man, code-named Abu Hussein al-Qurayshi, was "neautralized" in an operation carried out by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) on Saturday.

MIT had been following al-Qurayshi for a "long time," Erdoğan said.

"We will continue our struggle with terrorist organizations without any discrimination," he added.

Ankara uses the term "neutralized" for militants killed or captured.

For years, Islamic State controlled a large swathe of territory in Iraq and neighbouring war-torn Syria.

The extremist militia has been declared militarily defeated in both countries, but it remains active and has repeatedly carried out attacks there.