A Malaysian who was allegedly part of the Islamic State was killed during a battle in Syria two nights ago.

Bukit Aman counter-terrorism unit deputy director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay confirmed that Zainuri Kamaruddin, 50, who is better known as Abu Talha, were among three Malaysians killed.

"Based on intelligence we received, it is confirmed (that Zainuri was killed)," Ayob told Malaysiakini via text message.

It was earlier reported that Zainuri and two others had died in a bombing incident at around midnight local time in Malaysia.

Utusan Malaysia's weekend edition had quoted Zainuri's family member as saying that they were informed of the matter at about 1am yesterday morning by his friend in Syria.

According to the family member who wished to remain anonymous, they believed in the information relayed regarding Zainuri's death.

"The last time Zainuri had contacted us was around one week ago. In his last conversation, he told us that 'the time has come for him to go'," said the family member as quoted by Mingguan Malaysia.

Zainuri is believed to have departed for Syria in 2014 to join the Islamic State militant movement.

Zainuri who had acted as a leader for the movement's Katibah Nusantara unit in Syria had previously released a video claiming that an attack would be launched in Malaysia.

The two others who reportedly died in the bombing by Bashar al-Assad's regime are 52-year-old Zainan Harith (also known as Mat Soh or Abu Turab) and factory worker Ahmad Tarmimi Maliki, 26.