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Iran says three pilots captured in Qatar remain in detention
Iranian officials say the pilots have been held by Qatari forces for about six months and have not been allowed to meet or contact their families, Reuters?
Iranian authorities said three Iranian pilots who went down early in the Middle East war are still being held in Qatar and urged the Gulf state to release them, according to a report from SCMP Economy citing Agence France Presse.
SCMP Economy said the pilots were identified by Iran’s armed forces as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian. Iranian military officials, via a statement carried by Fars news agency, said their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war and that Qatari forces captured them alive.
SCMP Economy added that an Iranian armed forces general, Mohammad Bagherzadeh, said the pilots have been held for six months. He also said in a letter addressed to the International Committee of the Red Cross that the pilots have not been allowed to meet or contact their families.
SCMP Economy reported that Iran had previously said one pilot was killed and others were missing after a sortie to Qatar in March, but that news of the alleged capture had not been publicized at the time.