Hundreds of Kurds on Friday broke through the Turkish border into Syrian territory to join Kurdish forces battling the advance of Islamic State (IS) militants around the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab.

Turkish security forces have on previous occasions halted activists from moving into Syria to fight IS, sparking clashes with local Kurds on the border.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday signaled Turkey would take a more active role in the coalition against Islamic State (IS) militants following the release of Turkish hostages held by the jihadists.

Ankara has for months frustrated the West with its distinctly low-key role in the campaign against IS jihadists but insisted its hands were tied by concerns over the fate of the hostages.

The French interior minister on Friday held talks with his Turkish counterpart aimed at improving intelligence and security communications after an embarrassing bungle allowed three suspected jihadists who fought in Syria to walk free.

Bernard Cazeneuve met Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala days after a communications breakdown between the two sides allowed the three suspects to saunter out of a French airport unhindered after being deported from Turkey.

Turkey said Friday it was prepared to take any measure that ensures its own security in the fight against Islamic State militants, keeping Ankara's options open amid growing pressure from its Western allies for concrete action.

Ankara has for months frustrated the West with its distinctly low-key role in the campaign against IS jihadists but there have been signs over the last days it is shifting its approach.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has informed the Lebanese government that Ankara is not willing to act as a mediator in the case of the soldiers and policemen who were kidnapped by jihadists last month, As Safir daily reported on Friday.

Turkish officials have also informed the Lebanese authorities that their rejection to mediate stems from the “sensitivity” of the case, Lebanese ministerial sources said.

President Barack Obama spoke briefly with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday about the war against the Islamic State group and the U.S.-led coalition which the Turks have yet to join.

Officials said Obama called Erdogan from Air Force One as he returned from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the Turkish leader met with Vice President Joe Biden.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday urged European governments to provide greater support to Syrian refugees after the launch of Western airstrikes in the country.

Turkey has voiced support for the U.S.-led strikes against Islamic State jihadists in Syria but has said that the Western forces have not used its airspace.

Kurdish rebels on Wednesday cast doubt on continuing a truce with the Turkish authorities, accusing the ruling party of fighting a "war" with Kurds amid the advance of Islamic State (IS) militants.

The statement by the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) -- considered the urban wing of the mountain-based and outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- is the latest sign of the worsening climate between Turkish Kurds and the authorities.

Turkey has toughened its rhetoric against Islamic State jihadists but the West is still waiting for action from Ankara after months of frustration with its lukewarm cooperation.

Ankara on Wednesday denied Turkish air space had been used in the latest U.S.-led strikes against IS militants in Syria, but made clear that Turkey strongly supported the campaign.

A Turkish court convicted a writer of "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a book about last year's mass anti-government protests, handing him a suspended jail sentence of almost one year, media reported Wednesday.

The Istanbul court in a closed hearing Tuesday sentenced Erol Ozkoray to 11 months and 20 days in prison, but suspended the term for five years, the reports said.