"We do not find these operations as an attack on Iraq's sovereignty," Ali al-Dabbagh said.

"We do know there is a threat to Turkey from the terrorist group PKK. We do not have control... neither Turkey has control. But we have told Turkey that the operation should not destablise Iraq and the region," Dabbagh said.

On Thursday Turkish armed forces launched a new ground offensive in northern Iraq's Kurdish regions, targeting rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Ankara claims its forces have killed dozens of guerrillas since then.

Dabbagh said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on Saturday to discuss the latest operation.

"Our prime minister also told him (Erdogan) that the operation should not destabilise the region," Dabbagh added.