Iran claims Qatar holds three captured fighter pilots

Iran's military says Qatar is holding three of its fighter pilots captive, but Qatar denies this. Iran claims the pilots were captured on March 2, 2026, after their jets were shot down during a military operation. The three men are Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian. Iran says they have had no contact with their families for about six months. A fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, died in the same operation, and Iran says his body was returned. Qatar says it never detained anyone, and that it contacted Iran in April 2026 to share information about search and rescue work, but Iran did not reply. Iran's Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh has written to the International Committee of the Red Cross about the case.