Iran Says Qatar Captured Three of Its Pilots Early in War With U.S.

Iran has accused Qatar of capturing three of its bomber pilots in the early days of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, and on Saturday called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene on their behalf.

Gen. Seyed Mohammad Bagherzadeh, commander of the Iranian armed forces’ missing persons search committee, wrote to the global aid organization in a letter published by Iranian media. He said the men were flying Su-24 fighter jets in an operation on March 2, days after the outbreak of the war, when their planes had been hit by “enemy defenses” and the pilots ejected.

They survived but were captured by the Qatari authorities, according to General Bagherzadeh, who named the men as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian. A fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, died, he added.

The Red Cross and a Qatari government spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

General Bagherzadeh’s letter was the most precise indication so far of what Iran believes happened to the three pilots. Before Saturday’s letter, Iranian authorities had said the fate of the men was unknown.

Qatar, a close U.S. ally that hosts a major American military base, said on March 2 that its Air Force had shot down two Iranian Su-24 bomber jets. Iran lashed out at its Persian Gulf neighbors soon after it was attacked by the United States and Israel.

Qatar “has not allowed the prisoners to meet or speak with their families or with officials handling their cases,” General Bagherzadeh wrote. He called on the Red Cross to meet with the pilots, investigate their condition, and facilitate their release as soon as possible.

Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting.