Turkey claims to have killed nearly 200 Isis fighters in a series of retaliatory attacks after the deadly suicide bombing in Istanbul.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility in the aftermath of the bombing which killed 10 tourists, the authorities say the bomber has been identified as a Syrian man born in 1988 with known links to the so-called "Islamic State".

On Thursday, the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the military had used tanks and artillery fire to target 500 Isis positions along the border with Turkey and near a Turkish camp in Syria and Iraq.

He said close to 200 extremists were "rendered ineffective" - the phrase used by the Turkish government to mean killed - in the 48 hours since the terror attack.

In pictures: Istanbul explosion Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Istanbul explosion In pictures: Istanbul explosion A carnation is left at the site of the explosion in the historic Sultanahmet district in Istanbul AP In pictures: Istanbul explosion A screen shot of the explosion from a tourist camera, Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul In pictures: Istanbul explosion Rescue teams gather at the scene after an explosion in central Istanbul In pictures: Istanbul explosion Policemen secure an area at the historic Sultanahmet district, which is popular with tourists, after an explosion in Istanbul In pictures: Istanbul explosion Police secure the area after an explosion near the Ottoman-era Sultanahmet mosque, known as Blue mosque in Istanbul In pictures: Istanbul explosion Police investigate the area after an explosion in central Istanbul In pictures: Istanbul explosion Turkish police sealed off a central Istanbul square in the historic Sultanahmet district after a large explosion Reuters In pictures: Istanbul explosion Police secure the area after an explosion in central Istanbul In pictures: Istanbul explosion Policemen secure an area at the historic Sultanahmet district, after an explosion in Istanbul

He said the Turkish army had begun launching revenge strikes as soon as Isis was deemed responsible for the "heinous" bombing of one of Istanbul's main tourist attractions, though the suggestion that so many Isis fighters were killed was met with some scepticism from analysts.

"Turkey will continue to punish with even greater force any threat that is directed against Turkey or its guests," Mr Davutoglu said. "We will press ahead with our determined struggle until the Daesh (Isis) terrorist organisation leaves Turkey's borders ... and until it loses its ability to continue with its acts that soil our sacred religion, Islam."