NATO supported Turkey’s increased role in the fight against Islamic State (IS) on Tuesday.

“The security of the Alliance is indivisible, and we stand in strong solidarity with Turkey,” NATO said in a statement following a 90-minute emergency meeting of ambassadors from the 28 member states of the Alliance convened at Turkey’s request.

Turkey invoked Article 4 of NATO founding treaty which states that “the parties will consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the parties is threatened.” Article 4 doesn’t automatically trigger military action on the part of other members of the Alliance.

“We will continue to follow the developments on the South-Eastern border of NATO very closely,” NATO said.

The Alliance strongly condemned “the terrorist attacks against Turkey” and expressed its condolences “to the Turkish government and the families of the victims in Suruc and other attacks against police and military officers.”

Last week's suicide bombing blamed on IS that killed 32 people in Suruc, a Turkish town near the border with Syria, made Ankara shed its previous reluctance and enter into battle against Islamic State.  

Turkey's more robust approach has seen its combat aircraft strike IS targets in Syria and an agreement reached for US jets to launch strikes from Turkey's Incirlik Air Base.

“Terrorism poses a direct threat to the security of NATO countries and to international stability and prosperity. It is a global threat that knows no border, nationality, or religion – a challenge that the international community must fight and tackle together,” NATO said.