Iran calls for release of pilots captured in Qatar during Middle East war

Iranian authorities on Saturday called for the release of three pilots they say were captured in Qatar during the Middle East war.

General Mohammad Bagherzadeh said the pilots' Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war and that Qatari forces have held them for six months. He made the appeal in a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Who are the Iranian pilots captured in Qatar?

Iran identifies the three pilots as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian. General Bagherzadeh said they were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war, and that they have been held for six months without contact with their families. Iran had previously said the pilots were missing, but news of their alleged capture was not made public until now.

Why is Iran demanding the pilots' release?

In his letter to the ICRC, Bagherzadeh called for the pilots' release, saying they had not been allowed to meet or contact their families. Last month, Iran's army said it had retrieved the body of another pilot, Majid Kazemi, who was killed during an attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in early March. The Al Udeid base hosts forward components of US Central Command, including its air forces and special operations forces, and is the largest US base in the region.

What triggered the Middle East war between Iran and the US?

The Middle East war broke out on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which retaliated with attacks across the region. Diplomatic efforts led to an April ceasefire that ended nearly 40 days of fighting, followed by a June framework for peace talks that later collapsed. Iran and the United States have since traded fire sporadically, with fighting centred mainly in southern Iran and around the Strait of Hormuz. A lull in fighting has been in place since late July.