Iran on Saturday claimed that three of its fighter jet pilots were captured by Qatar during their attacks in March this year when they were targeting a US base.
Iran has accused Qatar of capturing three of its military pilots during the early days of the US-Israeli war with Iran, a claim Qatar has publicly denied.
Gen Seyed Mohammad Bagherzadeh, commander of Iran’s armed forces’ missing persons search committee, made the allegation in a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which was published by Iranian media.
He said the three men were flying Su-24 fighter jets on 2 March, days after the war began, when their aircraft were hit by “enemy defenses” and the pilots ejected. According to Gen Bagherzadeh, the pilots survived but were subsequently captured by Qatari authorities.
Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry, said Doha had not detained any Iranian pilots. “We categorically deny the claims circulating regarding the detention of Iranian pilots & are surprised by these misleading statements at this particular time, amid the ongoing diplomatic efforts & initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region,” al-Ansari wrote on social media on Saturday evening.
Who Are The Three Pilots
According to Fars News Agency, Mohammad Bagherzadeh, Commander of the Search Committee for the Missing of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, said the three pilots have been identified as Javad Salehi, Abdol-Majid Dashtian, and Emran Behrushian. Bagherzadeh said they have been held by Qatari forces for the past six months.
He further claimed that the Qatari government has so far not allowed the three pilots to meet one another, be interviewed, or have contact with their families or Iranian officials pursuing their case.
The Iranian news agency said the Iranian official called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to be given access to the pilots.
“According to the Third Geneva Convention, the International Red Cross must meet with the Iranian pilots in Qatar as soon as possible, investigate their health status, and facilitate the conditions for their release,” Fars reported.
There was no immediate comment from Qatar on the Iranian claim.
Iran Says Retrieved Body of One Pilot Killed During Strike At US Base
Last month, Iran’s army said it had retrieved the body of Iranian pilot Majid Kazemi, who was killed during a strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in early March.
Iran’s Army last month announced that DNA testing had confirmed the death of Kazemi, one of the Iranian Air Force’s Su-24 pilots involved in the March operation.