Key facts
- Iran considers three missing pilots to be prisoners in Qatar, despite Doha's denials.
- Qatar stated it is unaware of the pilots' fate and invited Iran to review search operations.
- The pilots' aircraft were shot down over Qatari airspace in March during an operation targeting the US' Al Udeid Air Base.
- Qatar reported shooting down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers in early March.
- Iran has retrieved the body of one pilot, Majid Kazemi, who was killed during the attack.
Iran is urging Qatar to clarify the fate of three Iranian pilots whose aircraft were shot down over Qatari airspace in March, amid ongoing conflict. Tehran considers the pilots prisoners, despite Qatar's denials of holding them.
Iran's Foreign Ministry stated on August 17 that it would consider the three missing pilots prisoners in Qatar until their situation is clarified. The pilots allegedly went missing while carrying out an operation against the US' Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on March 2, shortly after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Iran's military announced in July that it had retrieved the body of pilot Majid Kazemi, who was killed during the attack on the airbase.
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, categorically denied Iran's accusations, calling them "completely baseless, false and illogical." He reiterated that Qatar handed over the remains of one pilot to an Iranian delegation in April. Al-Ansari stated that the Iranian planes violated Qatar's sovereignty and were dealt with according to the law. He expressed surprise at Tehran's claims and noted that Doha had invited the Iranian side to review the search operations, but they did not respond. Qatar also stated that it would not hesitate to defend its territory if attacked, while emphasizing diplomacy and dialogue.
The military engagement occurred during an Iranian attack on Al Udeid airbase, the largest US military base in the Middle East. Qatar's Ministry of Defence had reported shooting down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers in early March. This incident followed retaliatory strikes by Iran across the Gulf after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the war on February 28. An April ceasefire temporarily halted major combat, but a subsequent Memorandum of Understanding collapsed, leading to continued exchanges of fire.