Obama and Turkey's Erdogan discuss security and IS

In a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday, President Obama offered condolences to the families of victims killed Monday in the southeastern border city of Suruc and Wednesday in the border town of Ceylanpinar.

The attack in Suruc was the deadliest in Turkey since 2013, killing 31 people, and prompting a reprisal by a Kurdish militant group which killed two Turkish police. The military wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for the attack on the police.

Obama "conveyed condolences on behalf of the American people to the families of the victims, and the two leaders affirmed that the United States and Turkey stand united in the fight against terrorism," according to the statement.

They also said they would strengthen efforts to stem the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria, and secure Turkey's border, a popular entry point for militants looking to join the IS group.

"The president reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to Turkey's national security," the White House said.

The leaders also spoke about "deepening our ongoing cooperation in the fight against ISIL and common efforts to bring security and stability to Iraq and a political settlement to the conflict in Syria," the White House said in a statement, using an acronym for the IS group.