Iran Urges ICRC Intervention Over Three Su-24 Pilots ‘Held Captive’ in Qatar

The Iranian Armed Forces have officially accused Qatar of holding three Iranian fighter pilots captive for six months following the downing of two Su-24 tactical bombers during a combat operation in March. Tehran is now urgently appealing to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene.

In a major escalation of regional military tensions, Iran has disclosed that three of its Air Force pilots have been held as prisoners of war in Qatar for the past six months. The revelation stems from a formal letter sent by Brigadier General Mohammad Baqerzadeh, Commander of the Missing in Action Search Committee of Iran’s Armed Forces, to ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger.

Downed After Targeting a U.S. Base
According to Iranian military officials, the incident occurred on March 2, amid heightened armed conflict involving U.S. and Israeli forces. Two Iranian Su-24 fighter-bombers successfully carried out a combat mission targeting a U.S. military base in Qatar but were intercepted and shot down by enemy air defense systems during their return flight.

The aircrews managed to eject from the stricken aircraft. While one pilot was killed in the incident, three others—identified as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Emran Behrouzian—were captured alive by Qatari security forces.

Allegations of Geneva Convention Violations General Baqerzadeh delivered a scathing critique of Doha’s handling of the captured personnel, accusing the Qatari government of blatantly violating international humanitarian law.Despite six months of diplomatic efforts, Iranian authorities report that they have been completely blocked from establishing contact with the captives. “Unfortunately, since that date, despite the passage of six months, the Qatari government has ignored and violated the inalienable rights of these prisoners, contrary to all international laws and regulations, including the four Geneva Conventions,” Baqerzadeh stated.

Urgent Appeal to the Red CrossStating that the pilots have been denied their fundamental right to communicate with their families and Iranian consular officials, the Armed Forces General Staff expressed “grave concern” over their current health and conditions. Tehran is now formally demanding that high-ranking ICRC delegates urgently travel to Qatar, conduct face-to-face interviews with the Iranian pilots to assess their medical status, and facilitate immediate diplomatic groundwork for their release.Qatari authorities have not yet issued an official response to Iran’s recent allegations regarding the captive airmen.