Qatar Denies Capturing Three Iranian Pilots After Fighter Jet Incident

Iran insists that it held three of its pilots after a February 2026 encounter when two fighter jets were downed at a Qatari military base. Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh sent a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross demanding the pilots’ release, explaining they had been imprisoned for six months.

The Iranian officer named the pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdul Majid Dashtian and Imran Behroshian, and said the body of a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, was returned after his death during the same operation.

  • Javad Salehi
  • Abdul Majid Dashtian
  • Imran Behroshian

Qatar’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Majed Mohammed Al Ansari, withstood the accusations, asserting that any contact with the pilots occurred after they violated Qatari airspace and that Qatar’s search and rescue teams performed a thorough search.

Al Ansari said Qatar had coordinated with Iran to handle the remains of one pilot and that Tehran had not yet replied to an invitation to scrutinise the rescue operation details.

The situation highlights escalating tensions as both sides examine the alleged capture and release of military personnel amid the broader US‑Iran conflict.

Image of a Russian Su‑27 fighter jet over a clear blue sky