In a counterterror operation launched in the Gaziosmanpaşa district of Istanbul early Tuesday, two left-wing organization Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) militants were killed. Yeliz Erbay and Şirin Öter, who were killed in the operation, turned out to be the militants who placed a bomb in front of Star Media Group's building back in July.

Istanbul's police department released a written statement that shared details of the operation. Underscoring that the operation targeted a MLKP cell house, the statement said that the two militants were killed in a clash while units tried to enter the building. Two weapons, two grenades and materials for explosives were also found in the cell.

On July 24, Star Media Group released a statement after a suspicious package was left in front of the group's building in Istanbul's İkitelli district, which was later detonated by the bomb squad at the scene.

"The time bomb was notified to officials by the security guards and it was detonated successfully by the bomb squad that was called to the scene," the statement added.

The Star Newspaper was targeted by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş during the election campaign for the June 7 parliamentary elections.