Iran Says Pilots Held by Qatar; Remains Returned

Iran says three Su-24 bomber pilots were captured by Qatar after their jets were shot down on March 2 and have been held for six months, with the body of a fourth pilot, Majid Kazemi, returned after his death in the same operation. Iran’s Missing in Action Search Committee has urged the ICRC to secure the pilots’ release and allow family contact, while Tehran says Kazemi’s remains were recovered in the early days of the conflict. Qatar denies holding surviving aircrew and says contact was attempted with the pilots after they violated Qatari airspace; search-and-rescue operations later recovered Kazemi’s remains. The dispute unfolds amid broader hostilities linked to the attack on Al Udeid Air Base and ongoing regional tensions involving the United States, Iran, and allied states. Iran’s claims have been echoed by state media and officials, while Qatar maintains it acted within international law. The situation continues to develop as conflicting narratives about the pilots’ whereabouts and rights under the Geneva Conventions persist.