AKIPRESS.COM - An Islamic State operative who was a close associate of leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi and linked with an attack on a Turkish nightclub that left 39 people dead has been killed, Sky News reports.

Abdurakhmon Uzbeki, believed to be from Uzbekistan, was killed during a military ground operation near Mayadin in Syria on 6 April, US military central command spokesman Colonel John Thomas said.

He added: "It was a ground operation. I think that's all we're willing to say about that."

He added that Uzbeki did not die in an airstrike.

The Reina nightclub in Istanbul was attacked on New Year's Eve and Uzbeki is believed to have helped facilitate the atrocity.

IS claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was in revenge for Turkey's military involvement in Syria.

The attacker sprayed bullets with an automatic rifle and threw stun grenades while he reloaded and shot wounded people on the ground.

The dead included Turks and visitors from several Arab countries, India and Canada.

Col Thomas said he had been "clearly linked" with the Istanbul attack.