Iran Seeks Release Of Three Pilots Captured By Qatar During March Airstrikes

Iranian authorities on Saturday called for the release of three pilots who Tehran says were captured by Qatari forces after their fighter jets crashed during the West Asia war. The Iranian military said the pilots have been held in Qatar for six months and urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene over their alleged detention and lack of contact with their families. General Mohammad Bagherzadeh of the Iranian armed forces made the claim in a letter addressed to the ICRC, according to Iran's Fars news agency. Bagherzadeh said three Iranian pilots — Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian — were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the conflict.

According to the Iranian military official, the three pilots have remained in Qatari custody for approximately six months. Bagherzadeh called for their release and said they had not been permitted to meet or communicate with their families during that period. The claims represent Iran's first detailed public account of the alleged capture of the pilots after Tehran had previously described them as missing. The circumstances surrounding the reported crashes and subsequent capture have not been independently detailed in the information available. Iran's latest appeal, however, places the issue in the context of the wider military confrontation in the region and raises questions about the status and treatment of military personnel captured during the conflict.

The involvement of the ICRC is particularly significant because the organisation has a longstanding role in matters concerning prisoners and detainees during armed conflicts. The development follows the Iranian army's announcement last month that it had recovered the body of another Iranian pilot, Majid Kazemi. Iranian authorities said Kazemi was killed during an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in early March. The base has been a significant US military installation in the region, making it a key location during the broader escalation between Iran and opposing forces.

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Iran had previously said that the three pilots were missing, but information about their alleged capture had not been made public at the time. The latest statement therefore marks a shift in Tehran's account, with Iranian officials now saying the pilots survived the crashes and were subsequently taken into Qatari custody. Bagherzadeh's appeal to the Red Cross also reflects Iran's concern over the prolonged lack of communication between the detained pilots and their families. Tehran has asked for their release while highlighting what it says is the absence of family contact for several months.

The allegations could add another sensitive issue to relations between Iran and Qatar, particularly given the wider military tensions that have affected the region. Qatar has not been cited in the provided report as publicly responding to the Iranian allegations or confirming the detention of the three pilots. The status of Salehi, Dashtian and Behraveshian therefore remains dependent on further confirmation from Qatari authorities or independent international sources. Iran's appeal to the ICRC is expected to keep attention on the pilots' whereabouts and condition as efforts continue to clarify what happened to them after the reported crashes.

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