Ankara - The Turkish Ministry of Defense has announced that its fighter jets conducted airstrikes against suspected targets of Kurdish rebel groups in northern Iraq on Sunday. This military action was in response to a suicide attack that took place at a government building in the Turkish capital.

According to a statement from the ministry, the aerial operation successfully destroyed approximately 20 targets associated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), including caves, shelters, and storage facilities.

Earlier, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near the entrance of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, resulting in injuries to two police officers. A second attacker was killed in a confrontation with the police on the same day.

While the interior minister did not attribute responsibility for the attack, a news agency linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed Parliament as planned, characterizing the attack as "the final attempt of terrorism" and emphasizing his government's commitment to establishing a 30-kilometer safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border to enhance security.

Turkey has conducted several military operations in northern Syria since 2016, targeting the Islamic State group and the Kurdish militia known as the YPG, which Turkey considers an extension of the PKK, a designated terrorist organization. The PKK has been involved in an insurgency against Turkey since 1984, resulting in significant casualties over the years.

Notably, an attack in Istanbul the previous year, attributed to the PKK and YPG, resulted in six fatalities and numerous injuries.

Reports indicated that the two attackers in Sunday's incident had stolen the vehicle used in the attack from a veterinarian in the central province of Kayseri, ultimately leading to the violent act in Ankara.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced an investigation into the attack, asserting that such acts of terrorism would not deter Turkey's resolve to combat terrorism with increased determination.

In response to the attack, Egypt, which had recently normalized relations with Turkey after years of tension, expressed solidarity with Turkey. The U.S. Embassy in Ankara and other foreign missions also condemned the attack.

During his speech, President Erdogan did not provide any timeline for Turkey's parliament to consider Sweden's NATO membership, which had been blocked by Turkey due to concerns about the presence of PKK-related groups operating in Sweden. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned the terrorist attack in Ankara, reaffirming his country's commitment to cooperating with Turkey in the fight against terrorism and wishing a swift recovery to the injured.