Qatar Denies Capturing Three Iranian Pilots After Downing Fighter Jets

Two Iranian fighter jets shot down near a Qatari base

Iran has demanded the release of three pilots it says were seized by Qatar after air defences shot down two fighter jets in a joint mission at a Qatari base on 2 March 2026. Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh wrote to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) claiming the pilots – Javad Salehi, Abdul Majid Dashtian and Imran Behroshian – have been held captive for six months.

Bagherzadeh also noted that the body of a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, who died in the same operation, was returned to Iran. The letter accuses Qatar of violating international law and of denying the pilots family contact.

Qatar’s foreign‑affairs spokesperson, Majed Mohammed Al Ansari, categorically denied the accusations, asserting that the pilots had violated Qatari airspace and that Qatari search and rescue teams had performed their duties fully. He said Qatar had moved to hand over remains and that an invitation was sent to Tehran to review the operation.

The dispute adds to the tension surrounding the early days of the US‑Iran war, as both nations accuse each other of misconduct and seek international support.