A Russian fighter for the Islamic State extremist group who was captured in Mosul has been sentenced to death by hanging, Iraqi authorities say.

A statement on September 12 from an Iraqi court said the man was tried under Iraq's antiterrorism law and had confessed to carrying out "terrorist operations" against Iraqi security forces since 2015.

He is the first Russian-born militant to be sentenced to death by Baghdad.

AFP reported that the man was 28 years old and said during his interrogation he had discovered Islam in Moscow, where Uzbek construction workers introduced him to the religion.

AFP reported that after arriving in Iraq, the man took the name Abu Yasmina al-Russi and said he was wounded in combat before his capture in Mosul.

Iraqi forces have captured hundreds of IS militants in liberating Mosul and other areas. Reuters has reported that the authorities are also holding 1,400 foreign wives and children of suspected militants, including some from Russia and other former Soviet states Tajikistan and Azerbaijan.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters