Qatar denies capturing three Iranian pilots after downing fighter jets

Iran has claimed that Qatar has held three fighter pilots captive for six months after their jets were shot down during a military operation on March 2, 2026, the third day of the US-Iran war. Qatar categorically denies holding the pilots and said it was "surprised by these misleading statements."

According to BBC reporting, Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh of Iran's military made the claim in a letter to Mirjana Spoljaric, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Bagherzadeh named the three pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdul Majid Dashtian, and Imran Behroshian, saying they were captured by Qatar after ejecting from their jets during a combat mission targeting a Qatari military base. Bagherzadeh also said the body of a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, had been returned after being killed in the same operation.

Iran accused Qatar of violating "the inalienable rights of these prisoners, contrary to all international laws and regulations," according to BBC reporting. The letter also claimed the three pilots had not been allowed to meet or contact their families.

Qatar's foreign affairs spokesperson Majed Mohammed Al Ansari stated that contact had been made with the pilots "after they violated Qatari airspace." Qatar said it had not received a response from Iran following initial contact. Al Ansari said "The necessary measures were taken to defend our territory in accordance with international law." Qatar also stated its search and rescue teams "carried out their duties to the fullest extent in searching for the pilots' remains" and that it had contacted Iran to "coordinate the handover of the remains of one of the pilots that were recovered," per BBC reporting.

Bargherzadeh told Tasnim, a semi-official Iranian news agency, that Qatar should allow an Iranian fact-finding team into the country to investigate, claiming one had been denied entry for months. However, Al Ansari said an invitation for an Iranian team to visit Qatar to review the findings of its search and rescue operation had been extended in April 2026, but Tehran had yet to respond.