Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Iran Demands Qatar Release Three Captured Pilots; Doha Denies
A big war happened in the Middle East between the United States and Iran.
During the early part of the war, three planes from Iran crashed.
Iran says that three of its pilots survived the crash and were caught by soldiers from Qatar.
Iran wants Qatar to let those pilots go home to their families.
The pilots' names are Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian.
Qatar says this is not true and that it never held the pilots.
Qatar says its rescuers searched hard for the pilots and even helped send back the body of one pilot who was found.
Qatar also invited an Iranian team to come and learn about the search, but Iran has not shown up yet.
Iran recently found the body of another pilot, Majid Kazemi, who died in an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The war has calmed down since late July, but ships near the Strait of Hormuz are still sometimes attacked.
Iran on Saturday demanded Qatar release three pilots it says were captured alive after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the Middle East war.
General Mohammad Bagherzadeh identified the pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian in a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari categorically denied the detention claim on X, calling the statements misleading.
Qatar said it coordinated the handover of one pilot's remains and invited an Iranian team in April to review search-and-rescue details, which Iran has yet to respond to.
Iran recovered the body of pilot Majid Kazemi after an attack on Al Udeid Air Base, and US-Iran fighting has been in a lull since late July.
- Who
- Iran's armed forces, represented by General Mohammad Bagherzadeh, Qatar, represented by Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari, and the International Committee of the Red Cross; the pilots are Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian.
- What
- Iran demanded that Qatar release three Iranian pilots it claims were captured after their Su-24 jets crashed, while Qatar categorically denied holding them.
- When
- The demand was made on Saturday; the aircraft went down on March 2 during the early stages of the Middle East war, and US-Iran fighting has been in a lull since late July.
- Where
- Iran, Qatar and the wider Middle East, including Al Udeid Air Base and the Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- Iran says the pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after ejecting and have been held for months without contact with their families; Qatar says the claims are misleading and that it fulfilled its search-and-rescue duties.
Iran's Claim
Qatar's Denial
Detention of pilots
Iran's Claim
Iran says Qatari forces captured three pilots alive after their Su-24 jets were hit by air defences and they ejected, holding them for about six months without family contact.
Qatar's Denial
Qatar categorically denies detaining the pilots, says its forces received no response when trying to communicate, and acted under established rules of engagement to defend its territory.
Handling of casualties
Iran's Claim
Iran demands the pilots' release and accuses Qatar of failing to uphold their rights under international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions; it wants the ICRC to check on the men.
Qatar's Denial
Qatar says its search-and-rescue teams carried out their duties to the fullest, coordinated the handover of one pilot's remains, and invited an Iranian team in April to review the operation, but Iran did not respond.
- Demand
- Iran demands Qatar release three captured pilots
- Pilots named
- Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, Omran Behraveshian
- Aircraft
- Two Iranian Air Force Su-24 fighter jets
- Incident date
- March 2, during an operation targeting Al Udeid Air Base
- Iran's claim channel
- Letter to the ICRC, including to ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, via General Mohammad Bagherzadeh
- Qatar's response
- Categorical denial by Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari
- Remains handover
- Qatar says it coordinated handover of one pilot's remains; Iran recovered the body of pilot Majid Kazemi
- April invitation
- Qatar invited an Iranian team to visit; Iran has not responded
- Conflict status
- US-Iran fighting in a lull since late July; sporadic attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz continue
