Iraq's response to the attack came as Turkish air force jets pounded Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) camps in Baghdad's autonomous northern Kurdish region, while commandos were dispatched in pursuit of the assailants and special units were sent by helicopter a few kilometres inside Iraqi territory.

"The Iraqi government condemns this terrorist activity by the PKK, and expresses its sympathy for the families of the Turkish soldiers," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It continued: "(Iraq) is committed to collaborate with the Turkish government on security issues to prevent a repeat of such actions."

Ankara has repeatedly urged the Iraqi government not to allow its territory to be used as a springboard by the PKK for attacks on Turkey.

Last week, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the problem could be resolved in a way that would not poison Turkish-Iraqi relations.

Clashes between the PKK and the army have escalated since the summer.

Five police and four civilians were killed in a landmine explosion in the southeast on Tuesday.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and much of the international community, took up arms in Kurdish-majority southeastern Turkey in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed about 45,000 lives.