Iran has called for the release of three Iranian pilots it says Qatari forces captured during the Middle East war.
Iranian officials made the demand on Saturday. They said the three pilots have remained in Qatari custody for about six months.
Iran Says Qatari Forces Captured Pilots
According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, Iranian Armed Forces General Mohammad Bagherzadeh made the claim.
He said Qatari forces captured three Iranian pilots after Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the conflict.
Bagherzadeh named the pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Imran Behroveshan.
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He also said the pilots have remained in detention for six months.
Iran Appeals to Red Cross
Bagherzadeh reportedly sent a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In the letter, he called for the immediate release of the three pilots.
He also claimed that the pilots had not received permission to meet or contact their families.
However, the information provided in the report does not include a response from Qatari authorities.
Iran Previously Reported Missing Pilots
Iran had previously said that several of its pilots were missing.
However, Iranian authorities had not publicly reported their alleged capture at that time.
Last month, Iran’s military said it had recovered the body of Iranian pilot Majid Kazemi.
According to the Iranian military, Kazemi died during an attack on Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base in early March.
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The latest claim about the three pilots adds a new dimension to Iran’s account of missing personnel during the conflict.
