ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s prime minister said yesterday increased military action against separatist Kurdish rebels was “unavoidable” and pressed America for a crackdown on guerrilla bases in northern Iraq.

Turkish helicopters pounded rebel positions near the border with rockets for a second day, and Turkey brought in troops by the truckload in an operation against mountainside emplacements.

Prime Minister Erdogan told members of his party in Parliament that “it is now unavoidable that Turkey will have to go through a more intensive military process.”

But he also suggested he was not seeking an immediate cross-border offensive against the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, holed up in bases in northern Iraq. “The responsibility of leadership does not allow for narrow-mindedness, haste, or heroism,” he said.

“We must remember that Turkey is part of this world and diplomacy has certain requirements,” Mr. Erdogan added, suggesting the world expected Turkey to exhaust all nonmilitary options.

Mr. Erdogan flies to Washington on November 5 for talks with President Bush that could be key to whether Turkey carries out its threat of a major military incursion. Secretary of State Rice is also expected in Turkey later this week.

“We will openly express that we expect urgent steps from the United States, which is our strategic partner and ally and has a special responsibility regarding Iraq,” Mr. Erdogan said.

America, Iraq, and other countries have been calling on Turkey to refrain from a cross-border campaign, which could throw one of the few stable areas in Iraq into chaos. A Turkish incursion would also put America in an awkward position with key allies: NATO member Turkey, the Baghdad government, and the self-governing Iraqi Kurds in the north.

The White House press secretary, Dana Perino, said Mr. Bush’s discussions with Mr. Erdogan would include “the fight against terrorism — in particular our joint efforts to counter the PKK.”