Qatar has denied claims that its forces detained Iranian pilots after fighter jets were shot down, calling the allegations misleading…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Qatar has denied claims that it detained Iranian pilots whose fighter jets were shot down, describing the allegations as misleading and stressing that the circumstances surrounding the incident had already been clarified through official channels.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said contact had been established with the pilots after they violated Qatari airspace and that authorities had confirmed the trajectory of the targeting.
“We categorically deny the claims circulating regarding the detention of Iranian pilots and are surprised by these misleading statements at this particular time,” Al Ansari said in a post on social media platform X.
The spokesperson said Qatari authorities attempted to communicate with the pilots but received no response. He added that, after following the rules of engagement, Qatar took necessary measures to defend its territory in accordance with international law.
“After following the rules of engagement and attempting to communicate with them without receiving a response, the necessary measures were taken to defend our territory in accordance with international law,” he said.
Al Ansari said the circumstances had been explained at the time through official channels. He also said Qatari search and rescue teams later carried out operations to locate the remains of the pilots.
According to the spokesperson, Qatar subsequently communicated with Iranian authorities to coordinate the handover of the remains of one pilot who was found.
The Qatari statement came after an Iranian military commander on Saturday claimed that Qatari forces had captured three Iranian pilots whose fighter jets were shot down while they were returning from a military mission against a US base in Qatar in March.
The commander said a fourth Iranian pilot was killed in the incident.
The claims have added to tensions surrounding the wider regional conflict and the military exchanges involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, according to the account provided by IANS. The attacks killed Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, military commanders and civilians.
Iran subsequently responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases and other assets across the region.
The body of the Iranian pilot identified as Majid Kazemi was returned to Iran and buried in the southern city of Shiraz in late July.
Qatar’s latest statement sought to reject the claim that Iranian pilots were being held by its forces, while outlining Doha’s account of the events surrounding the downed aircraft.
The Qatari government has also emphasised that its actions were taken in response to what it described as a violation of its airspace and were carried out in accordance with international law.
The conflicting accounts come as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent further escalation in the region. Qatar said the circumstances of the incident had already been communicated through official channels and that it had worked with Iran over the recovery and transfer of the remains.
