Iran Army Asks Qatar for Clear Answer on Fate of Missing Pilots

The Iranian army has called on Qatar to provide a clear and documented response regarding the fate of three Iranian pilots who have been missing since an operation during the early days of the Iran-Iraq war. The request was made by the Iranian army spokesperson, Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, in a recent interview with Mehr News Agency.

Akraminia recounted that the issue dates back to March 2, two days after the US military invasion of Iran. On March 12, two Sukhoi jets from the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force carried out an operation against a US base in Qatar. After hitting their targets, the planes were intercepted by enemy air patrols on their return and were shot down.

Following the incident, the body of one pilot, Martyr Majid Kazemi, was recovered and buried in Shiraz. However, since each plane had two pilots, the fate of the other three pilots remained unknown. Akraminia stated that necessary contacts have been made through Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Institution, the Army Headquarters, and directly with the Qatari Army and government.

Despite these efforts, the Qatari side has so far responded that it is unaware of the pilots' fate. Akraminia emphasized that Iran wants Qatar to pay more attention to this issue and provide a clear, documented response so that Iran can accept the evidence and learn about the fate of the pilots. He also addressed the Qatari Foreign Ministry's recent statement claiming lack of knowledge, urging Doha to act with greater responsibility and intensify efforts to clarify the situation.

The army spokesperson called on the Qatari side to address the matter with seriousness and provide the necessary documentation. According to Mehr News Agency, Akraminia's remarks highlight the ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the fate of the missing crew.