Iran claims three missing pilots held in Qatar since war began

Three Iranian fighter pilots whose aircraft were shot down on 2 March at the start of the conflict have been presumed missing ever since. Now Tehran is making a dramatic claim that the men are being held in Qatar, cut off from all contact with their families.Iranian officials are demanding that the International Committee of the Red Cross intervene to secure the release of the three aviators. The allegation represents a significant escalation in the regional tensions surrounding the conflict, with Iran suggesting that Qatar may be complicit in holding the prisoners.The three pilots were operating their aircraft when they were shot down during the early stages of the military campaign. Until now, their fate has remained unclear, with no confirmed reports of their whereabouts or condition.Iran’s appeal to the Red Cross signals an attempt to internationalise the issue and apply pressure on Qatar to either confirm the pilots’ detention or allow humanitarian access. The timing of the revelation comes amid ongoing regional diplomatic efforts and reflects the human cost of the ongoing military operations.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.