TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday called for the release of its three pilots detained in Qatar since being captured at the start of the US-Iran war about six months ago.
According to Fars news agency, Iranian Armed Forces General Mohammad Bagherzadeh said Qatari forces had captured the three pilots alive after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war.
In a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Bagherzadeh said Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Imran Bahroishan had been held by Qatari forces for six months.
He called for their release, saying the pilots had not been allowed to meet or communicate with their families.
Last month, Iran’s military said it had recovered the body of Iranian pilot Majid Kazemi, who was killed during an attack on Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base in early March.
Iran had previously said several other pilots were missing, but had not publicly disclosed reports of their alleged capture.