Turkey’s parliament to decide on joining anti-IS coalition

Turkey’s parliament will on Thursday debate motions for Turkey joining the international coalition battling the islamic State in the Middle East. Turkey had refused to join the coalition while dozens of its citizens — including diplomats and children — were being held by IS after being abducted in Iraq. After they were freed, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey’s position had changed, signalling a more robust stance towards the group. The coalition has been carrying out strikes against jihadists inside Syria for nearly a week, with US and Arab aircraft taking part in the raids.

We will hold discussions with our relevant institutions this week. We will definitely be where we need to be.

Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Meanwhile, Islamic State fighters have closed to within a few kilometres of a key Kurdish town on Syria’s border with Turkey, leading Turkey on Monday to deploy tanks to reinforce its side of the border. The jihadists still managed to advance within five kilometres of the strategic Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobane to the Kurds, despite new coalition raids against its positions. It was the closest the militants had come to the town since they began advancing towards it nearly two weeks ago, sending tens of thousands of mostly Kurdish refugees across the border.

Middle East turkey isis