Iran demands access to missing pilots in Qatar

After shooting down in March, Iran demands access to missing pilots in Qatar

In March, Qatar shot down two Iranian bombers. One pilot was killed and three others are missing. Tehran now suspects she is in custody - and is demanding clarification.

Tehran has called on Qatar to allow representatives of the Iranian army into the country to search for three fighter pilots allegedly detained in the Gulf emirate. "A team of experts from the Iranian Air Force has been waiting for months to travel to Qatar for an on-site investigation," said General Mohammed Baghersadeh, according to the state news agency Tasnim. Qatar's government denies arresting the pilots.

The Iranian air force attacked a US military base in Qatar in March. According to Tehran, the body of a pilot killed in the operation was handed over to Iran at the end of July. Three other fighter pilots are officially missing. On Saturday, Tehran accused the Gulf emirate of actually arresting the soldiers and demanded their release.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry has “categorically” rejected the allegations of an arrest. The Gulf Emirate had invited Tehran "to inform them about search and rescue operations in April, but the Iranian side has not yet responded," the government said.

Regular attacks

At the beginning of March, Qatar announced that it had shot down two Iranian SU-24 bombers that carried out an attack on the US Air Force base in Udeid. The Iranian bombers had come dangerously close to the base, only two minutes away, according to reports. Qatar's air force shot down the Iranian enemy aircraft in time - it was the first combat mission for the emirate's F-15 pilots.

Since the Iran War began in late February, Tehran has repeatedly attacked Qatar and other US allies in the region in response to US attacks. Iran regularly targeted US Army installations in the Gulf states.