Following the airstrikes, the ground operation began at 04:55[3] as Turkish commandos were airdropped near Siyanê village and engaged in fighting against People's Defense Forces (HPG) militants.[13] Three Turkish soldiers were killed and three others were wounded during the initial clash, and clashes continued into the next day. On the third day, Turkish troops supported by airstrikes landed from helicopters, entered high-level protected Gare mountain bunker, and captured two HPG fighters during the fighting against 8 HPG fighters, the rest of which were killed and few of them tried to flee area with Paramotors.[14][15] The Turkish Ministry of Defense reported that in the bunker cave, its troops also discovered the bodies of 13 Turkish citizens who had been captured by the PKK.[3] The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) claimed that the Turkish ground operation would not have been possible without permission or support from the Kurdistan Democratic Party which controls most of the region. KDP involvement was denied by both the KDP and HPG.[5]