Turkish soldier kidnapped by jihadists in Syria freed: PM

A Turkish soldier who went missing on the Turkish-Syrian border during an anti-smuggling operation was returned to Turkey by an intelligence service operation, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Monday.

"I would like to convey my regards to our soldier, who is on his way back to the country thanks to a successful operation by the National Intelligence Organization, as well as his family and our Turkish Armed Forces," Davutoglu tweeted on his account.

Ozgur Ors, border patrol station commander in the Kilis province in southern Turkey, went missing Thursday after he crossed into Syria to pursue a group of smugglers at the border.

Local NTV news broadcaster reported that he was rescued from the hands of Islamic State (IS) militants.

Turkish General Staff said Monday that it has no information regarding the accuracy of claims that the soldier was abducted by IS militants.

A total of 46 Turkish citizens and three Iraqi Mosul Consulate staff members were kidnapped on June 11 in 2014 by IS militants once the jihadists seized control of the city.