Two things must be kept in mind regarding the skirmishes between Turkish forces and the rebel Kurdistan Workers Party, also known by its Kurdish language initials PK, Gates said during a news conference.

"First, I think it's important for everybody to bear in mind the importance of the sovereignty of Iraq," Gates said. "The other factor, obviously, is that Turkey has suffered from terrorist attacks from the PKK, and the PKK has killed both Turkish soldiers and civilians."

What's important is "regular dialogue and openness" between the governments of Turkey, Iraq and Kurdistan "in terms of their intentions, their concerns, their plans and their activities and to work with the Iraqi government in trying to deal with this problem," he said Monday.

He said he didn't see the incursion as a threat to Iraq's security.