Three Iranian military pilots have reportedly been detained in Qatar for the past six months, according to a statement by Mohammad Bagherzadeh, commander of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff’s committee for missing personnel. The families of the pilots have reportedly had no contact with them, and Iranian officials have been unable to establish communication, prompting appeals to the International Committee of the Red Cross for assistance in securing their release.

The three pilots, identified as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian, were said to have been captured following an incident in March when their Russian-made Su-24 bombers were struck during a military operation targeting what Iranian authorities described as an “enemy military base” in Qatar. Qatari officials have not publicly confirmed the occurrence of this incident or the detention of the Iranian personnel.

A fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, was reportedly returned to Iran earlier after a separate military action involving Qatar. The specifics surrounding his release have not been disclosed.

This development unfolds amidst reported diplomatic exchanges involving Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan aimed at exploring potential negotiations with the United States, as stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Despite these communications, formal direct talks between Iran and the United States have yet to recommence.

Qatari authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the detained Iranian pilots or the alleged March incident. The circumstances surrounding the pilots' capture and current status remain unclear as both sides have refrained from detailed public comment.