Qatar denies detaining three Iranian pilots, says it found remains of only one after March Su-24 downing
Qatar denied on August 15 that it is holding three Iranian pilots, saying its forces shot down two Su-24 bombers in March after an airspace breach and recovered only the remains of one pilot, Majid Kazemi.
Iran's claim
On Saturday, August 15, General Mohammad Bagherzadeh, head of the missing persons committee of Iran's armed forces, sent a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross stating that three Iranian pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 aircraft crashed on March 2. The pilots were named as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian. Bagherzadeh said the men had been held incommunicado for six months without access to their families or diplomatic representatives, and urged the ICRC to meet the pilots, inquire about their health and facilitate their release. The claim was reported by Iran's Fars news agency.
Qatar's denial
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari rejected the allegations categorically, expressing surprise at what he called misleading statements from Iranian officials at a time when diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions are ongoing. Al-Ansari said on X that Qatari air defence forces had established contact with the aircraft after an unauthorised breach of Qatari airspace in March. After receiving no response to warnings, Qatari forces engaged the targets. Search and rescue teams later recovered the remains of one pilot, Majid Kazemi, and Qatar contacted Iran to coordinate a handover of the body. Qatar also invited an Iranian team in April to review details of the search and rescue operations, but Tehran has not responded to the invitation.
We are surprised by the misleading statements regarding the Iranian pilots amid the continuation of diplomatic efforts.
The March incident
The military engagement occurred during an Iranian attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the region, which hosts CENTCOM personnel. On March 2, Qatar's Defence Ministry reported shooting down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers, the first time a Gulf country reported downing Iranian aircraft during the conflict. The interception followed Iranian missile strikes on Qatari gas installations. At the time, Qatar did not provide details on the fate of the pilots.
- War begins with Israeli-American bombing campaign against Iran
- Qatar shoots down two Iranian Su-24 bombers after airspace breach near Al Udeid
- Ceasefire brokered with Pakistan as mediator; Qatar invites Iranian team to review search operations
- Peace framework talks collapse; Tehran and Washington sign memorandum mid-June
- Memorandum collapses, strikes resume from both sides
- Revolutionary Guards claim targeting radar and US aircraft at Al Udeid
- Iran announces recovery of pilot Kazemi's body; three others reported missing
- Iran claims three pilots captured alive; Qatar denies holding any
Recovery of one pilot
In late July, the Iranian army announced it had recovered the body of pilot Majid Kazemi, who was killed during the early March attack on Al Udeid. At that point, Iranian authorities said three other pilots were missing since the attack, without stating they had been captured. The capture claim was not previously publicised. In mid-July, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have targeted radar systems and US military aircraft at Al Udeid base.
Broader conflict context
The war in the Middle East began on February 28 with an Israeli-American bombing campaign against Iran. Iran retaliated with strikes on Gulf countries allied with Washington, including Qatar. An April ceasefire, brokered with Pakistan as an initial mediator, temporarily halted large-scale combat. A memorandum signed in mid-June by Tehran and Washington aimed to end the war, but it collapsed in early July with resumed strikes from both sides. Qatar mediates alongside Pakistan in the Iran-US conflict.
