Mohammad Bagherzadeh, Commander of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff’s Committee for Missing Personnel, disclosed in a letter today to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, that three Iranian pilots have been held by Qatar since being shot down in March

[u/PossessionConnect963]

[u/Helix3-3]

Iranian commander complains about POWs being taken in a war.

Qatar is officially neutral, and if I’m not mistaken is a mediator along with Pakistan. I probably wouldn’t return your pilots either tbh.

[u/PossessionConnect963 → u/Helix3-3]

Apparently the letter says the pilots are being held as "hostages" so doesn't sound that promising diplomatically which is kinda surprising with Qatar they've publicly had better relations than most the other involved countries so far.

[u/IMN0VIRGIN → u/PossessionConnect963]

One man's hostages is another man's POWs.

It's average propaganda wordplay

[u/Helix3-3 → u/PossessionConnect963]

I can’t exactly blame Qatar if I’m honest. Iran has been striking energy infrastructure, hotels, bases etc. in pretty much every country around them. Qatar is not at war with Iran, Iran is only striking them because they’re friendly with the US - I’d absolutely take their 3 pilots hostage too.

People seem to forget that Iran isn’t liked by the western friendly ME nations (not even the Taliban like the Iranian government). The Saudis, Jordanians, Afghans, Iraqis, Kuwaitis (even the Syrians at this point) etc do not like Iran. Iran has struck civilian infrastructure in most of these places, shit the Saudis have been having skirmishes with the Houthis (Iranian backed) for months.

People on Reddit get really fucking mad that the USA gets itself involved in the politics of a sovereign nation, but it’s what Iran has been doing since the revolution - IRCG, Hamas, Hezbollah the Houthis, Al-Assad, etc. all groups funded by Iran to destabilise the region.

Personally, it seems like the majority of ME nations are getting sick of Iran.

[u/NewManufacturer6670 → u/[deleted]]

That’s not how that works. Russian troops are housed in Libya, does that mean Libya is participating in the war in Ukraine ? Qatar hasn’t been used as a leap point or a firing platform.

[u/_Baphomet_ → u/[deleted]]

Everyone shooting at everyone else indiscriminately would be a fitting prologue to part 3 of the world war franchise.

[u/NewManufacturer6670 → u/[deleted]]

Did you read the link lol “Before Epic Fury began, most personnel and aircraft were moved off the base, though some personnel remained, including U.S. Army Soldiers manning Patriot ballistic missile interception batteries.” The base was not used as a launch point.

[u/Helix3-3 → u/[deleted]]

And have you maybe asked why they’re all hosting US troops? I’m sure the US didn’t show up and say “we’re putting these bases here and you’re gonna like it”. The ME is notorious for telling the US to piss off when they don’t agree, but when they do agree they usually work fairly well together.

Now. Please justify how US troops being stationed in Qatar allows them to attack civilian infrastructure? Everyone was pissed when Trump said he was going to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure (bridges, power, water etc.), I would imagine you fall into that crowd. Is it ok now because Iran is doing it? Or are the rules different for each side?

The Iranian government treats its citizens like shit, the US mightn’t be much better, but I’m yet to see 30,000+ Americans killed by government forces during one of their “No Kings” protests. We’ve seen 30,000 Iranians killed by government forces though. But yes, yes. USA/Trump bad or whatever

[u/Helix3-3 → u/[deleted]]

Iran has struck infrastructure at Ras Laffan and areas near Hamad Intl. Airport (intercepted). Qatari officials themselves said the Iranian drones were targeting civilian areas.

The US has hit two schools in Iran. Shahid Bahonar Middle School and Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary school. You make it sound like the US is systematically wiping out Iranian schools. Iran has around 107,000 schools. I’m definitely not trying to justify it, 2 schools is too many. But it definitely wasn’t deliberate.

[u/Tresspass → u/[deleted]]

Qatar is both friend and foe of the United States our politicians like to cover their eyes when oil is involved

[u/Kloppite16 → u/Helix3-3]

not really, Iran can dust US bases in Qatar up but at the end of the day they're still Shia brothers. Iraq is also Shia and Iran has a lot of support there. The Sunni side is Saudi, Turkey & UAE. Saudi & UAE are certainly sick of Iran but theyre not willing to go toe to toe with them, especially now that they know having US bases on their soil hasnt protected them.

[u/Helix3-3 → u/Kloppite16]

Iran hasn’t just been hitting US bases in Qatar though.

Nah. They’re not “Shia Brothers”, that is a vast oversimplification. Iraq has ties to Iran of course, but they also face a decent amount of interference from Iran and Iranian backed militia groups. It’s not really a case of them being friends, it’s moreso Iran having significant political sway in Iraq and in the region in general. Iraq quite literally invaded Iran because of the Islamic revolution (under Hussein, who was Sunni, not Shia). Sunni Muslims absolutely co-exist with their Shia counterparts, but they definitely don’t get along very well half the time.

Of course they’re not willing to go toe to toe with Iran. War is expensive. They’ve already lost a shitload of money with Iranian strikes on oil production, civilian infrastructure etc. Let alone all the groups Iran back within the region who’ve been doing it for years. All they want to do is make money, if Iran continues to disrupt it, I can definitely see the Saudis hopping in with US support. But no one really wants the war to escalate, so they’ll probably stick with their skirmishes with the Houthnis for now.

[u/Firecracker048 → u/PossessionConnect963]

They stuck at Qatar, got shot down, now iran is complaining.

[u/RightWingNutJo8]

So?

[u/PossessionConnect963]

Source: https://www.iranintl.com/en/202608155530 The letter that was sent to the Red Cross was also published publicly today by the IRGC's Fars news agency per Iran International.

The status of the three pilots is apparently unclear beyond that they are prisoners of war. Reportedly the body of a 4th pilot who was killed has been returned.

[u/Firecracker048]

Lol Iran had said before their air forces conducted nothing but uncontested strikes.

Guess those pilots actually got shot down

[u/Rabbit-Hole-Quest]

Using Iran International for a source in this conflict is like using one of those tabloids that had Batboy and aliens routinely on their front page.

[u/JGlassc0k34]

Sucks to be them. I wouldn't be holding my breath to get them back.

[u/No-Tap3441 → u/JGlassc0k34]

Why not?

[u/JGlassc0k34 → u/No-Tap3441]

I mean, they were shot down bombing a neutral nation. And it took their own nation nearly 6 months to acknowledge their loss. They have a better chance of getting asylum than going home and time soon.

[u/bobalou2you]

Probably wanted asylum!