"The United States, along with Turkey, are confronting these folks, and we will continue to confront them for the sake of peace," Bush said during a joint public appearance with Gul in the White House Rose Garden.

Relations between Washington and Ankara have warmed over the past few months amid US assistance for Turkish strikes targeting the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is based in Iraq's northern Kurdish region.

"We deal with common problems. One such problem is our continuing fight against a common enemy, and that's terrorists. And such a common enemy is the PKK. It's an enemy to Turkey, it's an enemy to Iraq, it's an enemy people who want to live in peace," said Bush.

"We have once again underlined the importance of our cooperation in fighting against the PKK, and I would like to thank the president for his determination in this regard," Gul said through an interpreter.

Turkey's military has confirmed three air strikes conducted with US intelligence assistance against the PKK in Iraq since December.

The group has waged a bloody campaign for Kurdish self-rule in southeast Turkey since 1984. The conflict has claimed more than 37,000 lives.