Doha, Qatar: Advisor to the Prime Minister and the Official Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, on his X account, stated: “we categorically deny the claims circulating regarding the detention of Iranian pilots & are surprised by these misleading statements at this particular time, amid the ongoing diplomatic efforts & initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region.”
“We reaffirm that contact was established with the pilots concerned following their violation of Qatari airspace & after confirming the trajectory of the targeting,” he continued.
“After following the rules of engagement & attempting to communicate with them without receiving a response, the necessary measures were taken to defend our territory in accordance with international law. This was clarified at the time through official channels.”
Al Ansari continued, saying that “in this context, we note that Qatar’s search & rescue teams, which possess world-class expertise & capabilities, carried out their duties to the fullest in searching for the remains of the pilots.“
The MoFA Spokesperson added that “the State of Qatar also communicated with the Iranian side to coordinate the handover of the remains of one of the pilots who was found, in accordance with the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law.”
“Qatar also issued an invitation for an Iranian team to visit the Qatar to be briefed on the details of the search & rescue operations in April, but the Iranian side has yet to respond to the invitation,” he continued.
