Iran Says Qatar Captured Three of Its Pilots Early in War With U.S.

Iran said the airmen have been held since March 2 when their fighter jets were shot down. The Qatari government has not commented. By Yeganeh Torbati and Leily Nikounazar Iran has accused Qatar of capturing three of its bomber pilots in the early days of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, and on Saturday called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene on their behalf. Seyed Mohammad Bagherzadeh, commander of the Iranian armed forces’ missing persons search committee, wrote to the global aid organization in a letter published by Iranian media . He said the men were flying Su-24 fighter jets in an operation on March 2, days after the outbreak of the war, when their planes had been hit by “enemy defenses” and the pilots ejected.

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