Iranian commander urges ICRC to intervene over pilots captured in Qatar
Tehran - BORNA - The text of the letter addressed to ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger by Brigadier General Seyed Mohammad Bagherzadeh, commander of the Missing In Action (MIA) Search Committee of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, reads as follows:
"Distinguished President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger,
With due respect, I inform you that following the start of cowardly attacks by the terrorist military of the United States of America and the illegitimate and usurping Zionist regime against our beloved country, Iran, on Feb. 28, 2026 (1404/12/09 HS), originating from airbases located in Arab countries along the southern Persian Gulf, the heroic Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army initiated a response based on the principle of defending the country’s territorial integrity. In this context, on March 2, 2026 (1404/12/11 HS), two Su-24 fighter jets departed for a combat mission targeting enemy military bases located in Qatar. Despite initial success in executing their duties, the pilots were forced to eject during their return due to hits from enemy air defense systems.
One of the four pilots aboard the mentioned jets achieved the noble status of martyrdom, and the pure body of this beloved martyr, pilot Majid Kazemi, has been buried following funeral services.
According to obtained information, the other three pilots involved in the incident—Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behrooshian—were captured alive by Qatari forces. Unfortunately, despite six months having elapsed since that date, the government of Qatar has ignored and violated the inalienable rights of these prisoners of war, contrary to all international laws and regulations, including the four Geneva Conventions regarding the imperative to observe the rights of prisoners of war. Furthermore, despite all diplomatic efforts and follow-ups, Qatar has failed to grant permission for visits, interviews, or contact between the prisoners, their families, and investigating officials—an omission that falls under the chapters pertaining to war crimes.
Accordingly, it is recalled that Articles 70 and 78 of the Third Geneva Convention explicitly state that prisoners must be allowed to inform their families and the Central Tracing Agency of the ICRC of their captivity. Furthermore, prisoners have the right to submit complaints and requests regarding conditions of captivity to representatives of the Protecting Powers, including representatives of the ICRC visiting their camps, or to confer with them directly or through their representatives. The articles also mandate that prisoners of war who, based on medical opinion, suffer from severe illness or injury must be repatriated directly to their home country.
The MIA Search Committee of the General Staff of the Armed Forces expresses its grave concern regarding the situation of the captive pilots in Qatar and urges the high office of the ICRC, within the scope of its humanitarian mandates and bilateral cooperation, to interview the Iranian pilots in Qatar as soon as possible, inform the Islamic Republic of Iran of their health status, and pave the way for their swift release.
Commander of the MIA Search Committee of the General Staff of the Armed Forces
Brigadier General Seyed Mohammad Bagherzadeh"
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