Qatar denies Iranian claims of capturing three pilots after March 2026 clash

After a strike on a Qatari military base on 2 March 2026, Iran announced its formal accusations against Qatar via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh filed a letter to ICRC chief Mirjana Spoljaric, asserting that pilots Javad Salehi, Abdul Majid Dashtian and Imran Behroshian were taken prisoner by Qatari forces after ejecting from Su‑24 jets.

The letter states the pilots had been held for six months, and that the body of a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, was returned following his death on the same day of the attack. Baghdad alleges that Qatar violated the inalienable rights of these soldiers, preventing them from contacting families.

Qatar’s foreign affairs spokesperson Majed Mohammed Al Ansari refuted the accusations, describing the Iranian claims as "misleading statements". He said contact had been made with the presumed prisoners after they breached Qatari airspace, but no response has been received. According to Doha, the necessary measures were taken to defend its territory in accordance with international law.

Al Ansari added that Qatari search and rescue teams carried out their duties fully, and that the Gulf nation had coordinated with Iran to hand over the remains of one recovered pilot. Iran has called for an independent fact‑finding team, claiming that a prior invitation to the country was denied for months.

Qatar extended an invitation in April for an Iranian team to review its search and rescue operation, but Tehran has not yet responded. The dispute remains unresolved as global observers monitor the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region.