WANA (Aug 15) – The Commander of the Missing in Action (MIA) Search Committee of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces has issued a formal letter to Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), demanding immediate action regarding three Iranian pilots held in Qatar.

 

According to the letter written by Brigadier General Seyed Mohammad Bagherzadeh, three pilots—identified as Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behrooshian—were taken alive into Qatari custody following an aerial incident six months ago.

 

The Iranian military official alleged that Qatari authorities have ignored international humanitarian standards by refusing to allow family visits or grant communication access to the captives.

 

Text of the Official Letter

 

To: Her Excellency Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross

 

Respectfully, I wish to inform you of the following regarding events originating from military operations earlier this year.

 

Following attacks launched against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28, 2026, from bases in neighboring Southern Gulf countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force responded in defense of national territorial integrity. On March 2, 2026, two Su-24 jets departed on a combat mission targeting military assets stationed in Qatar. Despite initial success, both aircraft were struck by air defenses during their return, forcing the pilots to eject.

 

One of the four pilots, Majid Kazemi, was killed in action, and his body has since been laid to rest.

 

Intelligence indicates that the remaining three pilots—Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behrooshian—were captured alive by Qatari forces. Over the past six months, the government of Qatar has consistently violated international regulations, including the Geneva Conventions regarding the treatment of prisoners of war (POWs).

 

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, authorities have denied these men contact with their families or official investigators—actions that fall under the scope of war crimes.

 

We explicitly recall Articles 70 and 78 of the Third Geneva Convention, which state:

 

Notification Rights: POWs must be permitted to inform their families and the Central Tracing Agency of the ICRC of their capture.

 

Right to Petition: POWs have the right to submit requests and complaints to representatives of protecting powers and the ICRC.

 

Medical Repatriation: Severely wounded or ill prisoners of war must be directly repatriated to their home country.

 

The MIA Search Committee expresses deep concern over the status of these captured pilots. We strongly request that the ICRC, within its humanitarian mandate, conduct an immediate welfare check, interview the pilots in Qatar, report on their health status to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and facilitate their swift release.