Turkey says it has carried out a number of air strikes on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, hours after a suicide blast hit the interior ministry.

There were 20 targets destroyed and many militants from the banned PKK rebel group were neutralized, according to the government.

Sunday morning’s bombing in Ankara was carried out by a group linked to the PKK, whose member blew himself up.

In addition to the first attacker, two police officers were wounded by the second attacker.

Turkey, the EU, the UK, and the US consider the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to be a terrorist organization.

The Turkish defence ministry said Sunday’s air strikes targeted caves, depots, and bunkers used by the PKK.

As quoted by AFP, the operation was designed to neutralize the PKK and other terrorist elements, prevent terrorist attacks from northern Iraq against our population and law enforcement agencies, and ensure the security of our borders.

Kurdish news agency Rudaw reported that the strikes targeted Mount Qandil near the Iranian border, believed to be a stronghold for the PKK.

Following an explosion on Ankara’s Ataturk Boulevard hours before parliament was to reconvene following a summer break, they were carried out.

According to Immortals Battalion, the group that claimed responsibility, they targeted the ministry because it is close to parliament.

To distract security, one of the attackers threw a small explosive at the ministry building at around 9:30 (06:30 GMT).

A suicide bomber then detonated a suicide bomb beside the ministry gate after opening fire on guards.

During this time, the first person ran into the compound and was shot dead by police.

The officers were injured in two separate incidents. The shooting injured one in the chest and injured another in both legs and the eye.

Ali Yerlikaya, the interior minister, told reporters none of the injuries were life-threatening.