Iran says Qatar captured 3 fighter jet pilots that crashed earlier during war, calls for their release

Iranian authorities announce that three of its fighter jet pilots were captured by Qatar after they crashed during the war earlier this year, and appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross to secure their release.

“Three Iranian pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war,” says General Mohammad Bagherzadeh of the Iranian armed forces, Fars news agency reported.

“Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian have been held by Qatari forces for six months,” he says in a letter addressed to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In the letter, Bagherzadeh calls for their release, saying the pilots had not been allowed to meet or contact their families.

#Iran military official says 3 Iranian Su-24 pilots who ejected during a March 2026 combat mission, are alive & being held captive by #Qatar. He urged ICRC to intervene, saying Doha has denied the prisoners any contact with their families or Iranian officials for past 6 months. pic.twitter.com/Qrv3Sbm3zK

— Iran Nuances (@IranNuances) August 15, 2026

Last month, Iran’s army said it had retrieved the body of Iranian pilot Majid Kazemi, who was killed during an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in early March.

Iran had previously said the other pilots were missing but news of their alleged capture was not publicized at the time.

The Al Udeid base in Qatar includes forward components of US Central Command (CENTCOM), as well the command’s air forces and special operations forces.

It is the largest US base in the region.