Islamic State Leader Killed in Intelligence Operation, Turkey’s Erdogan Says

ISTANBUL—President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Islamic State’s top leader died during a Turkish intelligence operation in what would make him the extremist group’s third chief to be killed in less than a year and a half.

In an interview late Sunday night with state television, Mr. Erdogan said Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization had followed what he called “the so-called leader” of Islamic State, code-named Abu al-Husayn al-Qurayshi, “for a long time.” Mr. Erdogan said the operation took place on Saturday but gave few other details.