ISTANBUL, TURKEY- Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey is set to join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State or ISIL.

The announcement came a week after Erdogan went to the United States for an official visit, and was persuaded by US President Barack Obama and US Vice-President Joe Biden to fight against terrorist groups such as ISIL.

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"Turkey is not a country that allows or supports terrorism because Turkey has suffered from terrorism for thirty years," he said. "We, as Muslims, should do our best. If the Christians world takes such a step on an issue that hurts the conscience of humanity, we will not remain a bystander."

The Turkish parliament is expected to meet and decide on Thursday about the participation of Turkey in the fight against IS and whether to expand the country's military action in Iraq and Syria where the ISIL originated and has grown.

Meanwhile, some analysts believe that Turkey is being pressured by US to join the fight against ISIL, warning that Turkey's administration could become a vulnerable target of local political attacks if it wages war against the terrorist group.

Hugh Pope of the internationally famous research team International Crisis Group said that "they have to accept that while Turkey is not comfortable with IS tactics, they do not see the IS as a natural threat."

"The government is not under pressure to go and deal with IS in Syria. Turkey is under pressure to make sure IS does not come into Turkey," he added.

Turkey shares borders with Syria and Iraq where the IS was born and has thrived undetected for many months. It has also become the haven of refugees from the civil war in Syria. Recently, more refugees have flooded into Turkey, following the series of attacks conducted by IS in Syria.

TagsTurkey, Erdogan