Three Iranian military pilots held captive in Qatar for six months without contact - report

Three Iranian military pilots have allegedly been held incommunicado in Qatar for the past six months, according to a report by Iran International. The pilots were reportedly captured by Qatari forces after their Sukhoi Su-24 tactical bombers were shot down in the region.

Mohammad Bagherzadeh, commander of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff’s committee for missing personnel, disclosed the information in a letter addressed to Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The letter highlights that the pilots have not been permitted to communicate with their families or Iranian officials during their captivity.

The report identified the detained pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian. It was previously confirmed by Iranian officials that a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, was returned to Iran following a military operation against Qatar. The circumstances surrounding the pilots' capture and continued detention remain a point of concern, with the ICRC now involved in seeking access and communication.