Introduction

Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan Province in western Iran, occupies a central position in the Iranian state’s security architecture in the Kurdish region. Located near the Iraqi border, the city has long been a focal point of Kurdish political activity as well as government security operations. For this reason, Sanandaj hosts a dense concentration of military and internal security institutions, including units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Iranian Army (Artesh), intelligence agencies, police command centers, and Basij paramilitary forces.

The headquarters of the IRGC Kurdistan Beit‑al‑Moqaddas Corps, responsible for security operations across Kurdistan Province, is located in Sanandaj and oversees IRGC and Basij units throughout the region.

The Iranian Army also maintains a significant presence in the area through Lashkar‑i 28 Piyādah‑yi Artesh (28th Infantry Division of the Iranian Army), historically responsible for territorial defense and military operations in western Iran.

During the first week of the war in early March 2026, several military and internal security installations in Sanandaj were reportedly struck by aerial attacks. Kurdish human rights sources reported that sites including the Intelligence Department building and the Shahramfar IRGC complex were among the locations affected.

This report compiles video evidence collected by Hana Human Rights Organization documenting these incidents and provides an overview of the security infrastructure involved.

Methodology

This report is based on video material collected by Hana Human Rights Organization from local sources in Sanandaj between 1 and 5 March 2026.

Each video was reviewed using open-source verification techniques. The review process included identifying landmarks and surrounding urban features visible in the footage, comparing those features with satellite imagery, and cross‑checking information with Kurdish and Persian local reporting.

Only videos that were reviewed and confirmed by Hana’s documentation team are referenced in this report.

Security Infrastructure in Sanandaj

Sanandaj contains several categories of security installations that form the core of the Iranian state’s presence in Kurdistan Province.

Police and Internal Security:
– Baharan police facilities
– Takyeh va Chaman police station
– Abbas Abad police facilities
– 12 Farvardin law enforcement complex
– Criminal Investigation Police offices
– Cyber Police (FATA) offices

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC):
– Shahramfar IRGC headquarters
– Imam Ali IRGC garrison in the Dushan area
– IRGC intelligence facilities
– administrative offices linked to the Beit‑al‑Moqaddas Corps

Iranian Army (Artesh):
Elements associated with Lashkar‑i 28 Piyādah‑yi Artesh operate in the region and have long been responsible for territorial defense and military coordination along Iran’s western frontier.

Documented Strike Events

Intelligence Department Complex – 1 March 2026
Video footage shows smoke rising from the Intelligence Department complex in central Sanandaj following a strike.
Video evidence

Shahramfar IRGC Headquarters – 1 March 2026
Footage recorded shortly after the strike shows large smoke plumes above the Shahramfar IRGC complex.
Video evidence

Takyeh va Chaman Police Facility – 2–3 March 2026
Multiple videos show explosions and smoke rising near the Takyeh va Chaman police station area.
Video evidence

Baharan Police Facilities – 3 March 2026
Video material shows smoke rising from the Baharan district following a strike affecting police installations.
Video evidence

Imam Ali IRGC Garrison (Dushan) – 5 March 2026
Video footage recorded from nearby residential areas shows a large explosion and smoke plume rising from the Imam Ali IRGC garrison.
Video evidence

Chronological Timeline of Strikes

1 March 2026
– Intelligence Department complex
– Shahramfar IRGC headquarters
– police facilities in Abbas Abad
– security facilities near 12 Farvardin Square

2 March 2026
– Takyeh va Chaman police station
– IRGC administrative facilities
– Dushan military area

3 March 2026
– Baharan police facilities
– Takyeh va Chaman police station (additional strike)
– 12 Farvardin law enforcement complex

4 March 2026
– security installations in several districts
– military installations near Dushan

5 March 2026
– Imam Ali IRGC garrison
– Baharan police facilities
– additional security installations

Verified Location Table

Location |           Type |                     District |               Approx. Coordinates

Intelligence Department Building | Intelligence | Central Sanandaj | 35.3148 N, 46.9983 E

Shahramfar IRGC Headquarters | IRGC | Central Sanandaj | 35.3165 N, 46.9947 E

Takyeh va Chaman Police Station | Police | Takyeh va Chaman | 35.3229 N, 47.0028 E

Baharan Police Facilities | Police | Baharan | 35.3324 N, 46.9879 E

12 Farvardin Security Complex | Law enforcement | Central | 35.3096 N, 47.0031 E

Imam Ali IRGC Garrison | IRGC | Dushan | 35.2975 N, 46.9687 E

Analysis of Targeting Pattern

The video evidence reviewed by Hana Human Rights Organization indicates that the strikes in Sanandaj during 1–5 March 2026 were concentrated primarily on security and military infrastructure linked to the Iranian state’s internal security apparatus.

The main categories of targeted sites include:

IRGC command and operational facilities.
The Shahramfar complex and the Imam Ali garrison in the Dushan area are associated with the IRGC and serve as command, training, and logistical centers for IRGC units operating across Kurdistan Province.

Police and law enforcement command sites.
Several locations documented in the video evidence correspond to police stations and law enforcement facilities in Baharan, Takyeh va Chaman, and near 12 Farvardin Square. These sites function as operational coordination centers during security operations.

Intelligence facilities.
The Intelligence Department complex in Sanandaj forms part of the provincial intelligence infrastructure responsible for surveillance, investigations, and internal security activities.

Paramilitary support infrastructure.
Some locations associated with the strike pattern are linked to Basij units, a paramilitary force operating under the authority of the IRGC. The geographic distribution of the strikes across several districts of Sanandaj suggests targeting of multiple nodes within the city’s security network, including intelligence, police, and military command facilities. At the same time, many of these installations are located within densely populated urban areas, meaning that military activity in these locations may pose risks for nearby civilians.

Conclusion

Video evidence collected by Hana Human Rights Organization indicates that several security installations in Sanandaj were struck during the first week of the war in March 2026.Most of the documented locations correspond to military or internal security facilities connected to the Iranian security apparatus, including IRGC bases and police command sites.Continued documentation and independent verification will be essential to fully assess the scope of the strikes and their impact on surrounding civilian areas.

Hana Human Rights Organization will continue to document developments across Kurdistan and other affected regions. Additional reports will be published covering incidents in other Kurdish cities, including Sanandaj, Mahabad, Bukan, Saqqez, Baneh, Marivan, and Kermanshah. Separate updates will also address the broader human impact of the war, including civilian casualties, displacement, damage to residential areas and public infrastructure, and humanitarian conditions affecting local populations. These reports aim to provide a clearer picture of the evolving situation and to support independent monitoring of the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.