The US military said yesterday it has killed a high-ranking Islamic State fighter who was involved in planning an attack in Istanbul on New Year’s Eve.

Abdul Rahman Uzbeki was killed on April 6 in a Syrian ground operation that targeted him, Central Command spokesperson Colonel John Thomas told reporters at the Pentagon via phone conference from Tampa, Florida.

Uzbeki was a close associate of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and had been involved in planning the attack on an Istanbul nightclub, which left 39 people dead.

- dpa