Footage received by the Hana Human Rights Organization shows armed forces affiliated with the authorities displaying their power in the streets of Baneh on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, coinciding with a military exercise held under the “Jan-Fada” (Sacrifice My Life) Campaign. According to local sources in contact with Hana, a significant proportion of the forces present were individuals referred to as “Jash.” Several urban routes, particularly the area around Imam Square, were also blocked, disrupting residents’ movement.
The military exercise and armed display come amid escalating war-related tensions and growing speculation about possible US and Israeli attacks against the Islamic Republic. In Hana’s assessment, the display of force by security forces in cities across Kurdistan cannot be viewed separately from the authorities’ concerns about the activities of Kurdish parties and the possibility that residents may support them. The armed presence of Jash forces in public streets under such volatile circumstances conveys a message of intimidation and threat toward Kurdish society rather than demonstrating defensive preparedness.
Hana warns that the Islamic Republic may exploit the wartime climate to intensify the militarization of cities across Kurdistan and impose an atmosphere of fear and intimidation on residents. Holding the “Jan-Fada” (Sacrifice My Life) Campaign military exercise in Baneh and turning the city’s streets into a stage for an armed display of power raise serious concerns about public safety and the use of external threats as a pretext for tightening domestic control and repression.