Takva Haber, a news agency known to be close to ISIS, said that the release of 49 Turkish consular hostages yesterday was the result of negotiations between ISIS and the Turkish state.

According to Takva Haber, ISIS held three months of talks with Turkey. Takva Haber claimed that "no ransom had been paid", and that the releases occurred "after agreement had been reached in negotiations between the two states."

Takva Haber gave details of the 3-month long negotiations, saying the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) and the Foreign Operations Directorate (DOP) had represented Turkey, while a body called the "Foreign Ministry of the Islamic State" had represented ISIS.

Takva Haber wrote that Turkey had made its intentions clear by refusing to take part in the "anti-ISIS coalition" proposed by the US, and that Turkey had thus: "even if indirectly", recognised ISIS.