Iran claims three missing pilots are alive in Qatar

Iranian military officials claim that three pilots who went missing after their Su-24 jets were shot down in March are alive and being held by Qatari forces. This assertion marks a significant shift from Tehran's previous position, as the government had maintained for months that it did not know the fate of the aircrew. Lt. Col. Mohammad Bakarzadeh, head of the Iranian committee for missing personnel, has appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene to secure access to and the release of the pilots. The incident occurred in March when two Iranian Su-24 bombers flew toward the Al Udeid Air Base; Qatar reported that its forces shot down both aircraft. While Iran previously announced the recovery of one pilot's body, it now claims the remaining three are in Qatari custody. Qatar has not yet issued an official response to these latest claims. The development adds a new layer of tension to the relationship between Tehran and Doha, which has already been strained by recent accusations regarding strikes on Qatari territory.