Qatar Denies Capturing Iranian Pilots After Downed Jets
Iran has demanded the release of three captives it says were seized by Qatar following the shooting down of two Iranian aircraft by Qatari air defence on 2 March 2026, the third day of the US‑Iran war.
Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh sent a letter to the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, naming the pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdul‑Majid Dashtian and Imran Behroshian. He alleges the men have been held for six months.
The general also notes that a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, was killed in the same engagement and his body was returned to Iran.
In response, Qatar’s foreign‑affairs ministry issued a statement rejecting the accusations outright, calling them "misleading". It says it had taken all necessary measures to defend its territory and that rescuers searched for missing pilots and coordinated the return of remains.
Qatar’s spokesperson noted contact with the alleged prisoners after they violated Qatari airspace, yet no reply has been received. He added that Qatar had offered a fact‑finding team from Iran to review the rescue operation, but Tehran has yet to respond to the invitation.
The disagreement adds to the tensions in the Gulf as the broader conflict proceeds, with both sides refusing to concede other points in the early days of the war.
