Iran Accuses Qatar of Detaining Three Bomber Pilots

The Government of Iran has formally accused Qatar of holding three bomber pilots as prisoners of war since March 2, 2026. In a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh stated that pilots Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian were captured by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets were shot down during a mission targeting a U.S. military base in Qatar.

Iran alleges that Qatar violated the Geneva Conventions by denying the prisoners contact with their families and government officials. The engagement occurred during a broader regional conflict involving the United States and Israel that began on February 28. A fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, was killed during the mission, and his remains were subsequently returned to Iran.

While the Qatari government previously confirmed the downing of two Iranian jets on March 2, it has not yet responded to the specific allegations regarding the captured pilots. Iran is now calling on the International Committee of the Red Cross to investigate the condition of the detainees and facilitate their release.