NEW YORK -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is considering expanding support of NATO operations against the Islamic State group to include military involvement.

His comments Tuesday to Turkish reporters in New York mark a potential shift in Turkey's position on international efforts to fight the group.

Erdogan spoke on the sidelines of an annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations and hours after the U.S. and Arab allies launched airstrikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria

Turkey's had so far offered limited support, partly because the Islamic State group had been holding 49 Turkish hostages.

Erdogan said Turkey was now considering a role that "includes everything. Both military and political," Turkey's DHA news agency reported.

"Of course we will do our part," he said.