Iranian pilots held in Qatar face poor health conditions, official says

Brigadier General Mohammad Bagherzadeh, Commander of the Missing in Action Search Committee of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff, has stated that the health conditions of four Iranian pilots held in Qatar are not good. The pilots were targeted during a defensive mission in the early days of the 40-day war that the US and the Zionist regime launched on February 28, 2026.

General Bagherzadeh said that the Iranian Foreign Ministry has been following up on their status since the very beginning. He underlined that the location where the Iranian pilots are being held on water is unsuitable for maintaining their health. He emphasized that Qatar should transfer the Iranian prisoners to land and a fully equipped hospital as soon as possible.

Additionally, he called on Kuwait to respect the rights of the prisoners of war under the four Geneva Conventions and to facilitate initial contact between them and their families.

On August 15, General Bagherzadeh made these disclosures in a letter to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger. In the letter, he expressed "grave concern" over the fate of the three Iranian pilots and asked the international humanitarian organization to urgently follow up on their situation.

According to Mehr News Agency (MNA), the report highlights the ongoing diplomatic efforts by Iran to secure the well-being of its captured pilots and to ensure their rights under international law.