Sanandaj; Evacuation of military and government agencies and deployment of forces in government buildings, the Hosseiniyeh, and unknown locations; Increase in serious concern regarding the lives of civilians
March 4, 2026; On the evening of March 3, 2026, as the military conflict between the USA-Israel and the Islamic Republic continued for its fourth day, some government and military institutions of the Islamic Republic in the city of “Sanandaj” were targeted by missile and drone attacks. Reports received by “Kurdpa” indicate that since the evening of March 2, weapons and forces from some military centers were collected before the attacks and transferred to the Dokhaniat building in the “Enqelab Square” area—where organizational houses of special forces and a Hosseiniyeh are located. However, serious concern remains among citizens regarding the possibility of deploying forces in public civilian centers and unknown locations across the city; a matter that could put the lives of civilians at risk.
A reliable source, while confirming this news, told “Kurdpa”: On the evening of March 3, 2026, during the second day of missile and drone attacks on military and government agencies of the Islamic Republic in the city of “Sanandaj,” these attacks continued, and institutions including “Police Station 17 on Abbasabad Street,” “Police Station 19 of Baharan,” “Baharan Outpost,” the “Intelligence Department,” the “113 News Headquarters Base,” the “April 1st Law Enforcement Command,” and the “Tekiyeh and Chaman Police Station” were targeted.
This source added: “We saw with our own eyes that before these centers were targeted, from the evening of March 2 until March 3, military forces collected weapons from police stations using vehicles. Government and military sites were evacuated, and forces along with equipment were transferred in a concentrated manner, and a large portion of the forces and weapons were moved to the Dokhaniat buildings in the “Enqelab Square” area, where a strict security situation is established and the free movement of people is prevented.”
The Dokhaniat market is one of the well-known markets of the city of “Sanandaj” in the “Enqelab Square” area; a high-traffic square which is a place of activity for street vendors, goldsmiths, fruit sellers, and other tradespeople. Behind this market, in the city center, there is a Hosseiniyeh, and organizational houses are located around it.
This source emphasized that there is also serious concern that military and government forces have been deployed in public and unknown locations; a matter that could put the lives of civilian citizens at risk.
“Kurdpa,” expressing concern over the deployment of military and government forces in public places and residential areas, points out that based on international humanitarian law principles, including the principle of distinction between military and civilian targets and the principle of proportionality, the parties to the conflict are obliged to refrain from placing military equipment and forces among the civilian population. Also, according to human rights standards, governments are responsible for protecting the lives and security of citizens, and the use of public, religious, or residential places for military purposes can expose civilians to the direct risk of attacks. Accordingly, any action that increases the threat against the lives of the people is considered a violation of international obligations regarding the protection of civilians and will entail legal responsibility.
