Qatar on Saturday denied that it was detaining Iranian pilots who went lacking early within the US-Israeli war with Iran after their plane have been downed.
“We categorically deny the claims circulating concerning the detention of Iranian pilots and are shocked by these deceptive statements,” Qatari overseas ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari stated on X.
He added that the stays of one in all the pilots have been discovered and that Qatar contacted Iran to coordinate a handover.
Nevertheless, Tehran had not responded to the invitation, the spokesperson stated.
Iran calls on Qatar to launch downed pilots
Qatar’s response comes after Iranian media revealed an announcement by the top of the Committee for Lacking Individuals on the Common Workers of the Iranian Armed Forces.
“Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian have been held by Qatari forces for six months,” Common Mohammad Bagherzadeh stated in a letter.
Bagherzadeh additionally stated that three Iranian pilots had been ”captured alive” after their fighter jets crashed throughout a mission concentrating on a navy base in Qatar shortly after the beginning of the Iran war.
Within the letter, the overall alleged that Qatar had not allowed the pilots to contact or meet with households or Iranian officers dealing with their instances.
The official additionally requested the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross for assist to comply with up on the destiny of the pilots.
Qatar shot down Iranian jets in early March
Tehran responded to the US-Israeli assaults in late February with a collection of strikes throughout the area, together with US navy services in the Gulf.
On March 2 — the third day of the battle — Qatar’s Protection Ministry stated it had downed two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 bombers. Nevertheless, it was unclear if these jets have been flown by the pilots Iran claims are being held in Qatar.
Qatar had condemned Iran for its “reckless and irresponsible” targeting of its territory.
Edited by: Karl Sexton
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