In brief
Iran has demanded the release of three pilots it says were seized by Qatar after two jet fighters were downed in early 2026. Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh wrote a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross alleging violations of international law, naming the pilots Javad Salehi, Abdul Majid Dashtian and Imran Behroshian. Qatar’s foreign ministry categorically denied the claims, signalling that the pilots were not held as prisoners. The incident occurred during the third day of the US‑Iran war, when Iranian jets had an encounter with Qatar’s air defenses and subsequently ejected, leading to confusion over the pilots’ fate.
Iran has demanded the release of three pilots it claims were captured by Qatar following the downing of two jet fighters in early March 2026. In a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh identified the pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdul Majid Dashtian and Imran Behroshian, saying they had been held for the past six months.
Bagherzadeh also noted that the body of a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, had been returned after he was killed in the same operation on 2 March, the war’s third day.
Qatar’s foreign affairs spokesperson Majed Mohammed Al Ansari publicly denied the allegations, calling the statements “misleading” and emphasizing that the pilots were not held as prisoners. He said Qatari authorities had acted in accordance with international law after the pilots ejected and violated Qatari airspace.
Qatar’s rescue teams carried out search operations and stated they had organised the handover of the pilot’s remains. Iranian officials have yet to respond to Qatari invitations to review the details of the search and rescue efforts.
The event underscores the escalating tensions in the region, with the US‑Iran hostilities beginning earlier this year and drawing international scrutiny.
