Istanbul, Turkey ? Turkey called Monday for Iraq and the United States to crack down on Kurdish guerrillas based in northern Iraq, and issued a veiled threat to attack the rebel bases if there is no progress.

The U.S. ambassador to Turkey cautioned against a unilateral attack on the insurgents, who are based in remote mountains in one of the few stable parts of Iraq.

The guerrillas, who want autonomy for Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated southeast, have killed 15 Turkish security personnel since Thursday in ambushes, roadside bombings and shootings.

“What we expect (from Iraq) is for the removal of a threat toward a neighboring country and for our ally, the United States, to support Iraq in this,” Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said.

He said Turkey “will continue our struggle against terrorism at any cost,” adding that Turkey is willing to take “every measure that is known.”

Asked whether Turkey planned a military offensive into Iraq against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, Cicek said: “Turkey is going to use its international rights until the very end.”