Iran Urges Red Cross to Secure Release of Three Pilots Detained in Qatar
Iranian military authorities have formally asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene for the release of three Iranian pilots they say have been held in Qatar for the past six months.
In a letter addressed to the ICRC, Gen. Mohammad Bagherzadeh of the Iranian armed forces identified the pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian. He said the three men were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the West Asia war. The letter, reported by the Iranian news agency Fars, also stated that the pilots have not been allowed to meet or contact their families during their detention.
Gen. Bagherzadeh called on the international humanitarian body to help secure their release, saying that the pilots had been denied basic communication and family visits for six months. He did not specify the date or exact location of the reported capture, but said the men were in Qatari custody.
The appeal comes as the broader conflict between Iran and the United States and its allies remains unresolved. Last month, Iran's army said it had recovered the body of another pilot, Majid Kazemi, who was killed during an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in early March. Earlier, Iranian officials had described the three other pilots as missing, but the allegation of their capture was not publicly disclosed at the time.
Al Udeid Air Base is the largest U.S. military installation in the region and hosts forward components of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), including its air forces and special operations units. The base has been a central hub for coalition operations throughout the conflict.
The West Asia war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. Iran retaliated with attacks across the region, including an assault on Al Udeid that reportedly caused casualties. Diplomatic efforts produced a ceasefire in April, ending nearly 40 days of active fighting. A framework for peace talks was signed in June but later collapsed, leading to sporadic exchanges of fire.
Most of the recent fighting has been concentrated in southern Iran and around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments. A lull in hostilities has held since late July, though no formal peace agreement is in place.
International humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, requires that prisoners of war be protected and allowed to correspond with their families. The ICRC, as a neutral intermediary, has a mandate to visit detained personnel and help maintain such contact. It has not yet publicly responded to the Iranian request.
Qatari authorities have also not commented on the allegations. The Iranian military's statement is based on its own reporting, and the exact status of the three pilots remains unverified.
The ICRC has not yet issued any statement confirming or responding to the letter. In line with its usual practice, the organisation does not publicly disclose operational details of its detention-related work. It remains to be seen whether a visit to the pilots will be permitted.
The case is likely to add another layer of tension to the fragile West Asia situation, where a formal end to hostilities remains elusive. The ICRC's response, and any Qatari reaction, will be watched closely as regional actors continue to navigate a deeply divided security landscape.
