West Asia war LIVE: Iran demands release of downed pilots as Qatar denies holding them

Home News World Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian have been held by Qatari forces for six months, said General Mohammad Bagherzadeh of the Iranian armed forces Updated - August 16, 2026 06:45 am IST Strait of Hormuz. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Iran on Saturday (August 15, 2026) demanded that Qatar release three of Tehran’s pilots whose aircraft went down early in the West Asia war, though the Gulf state denied it was detaining them.Also read | Iran fires back at Trump’s threat to declare Hormuz a U.S. territoryIran had previously reported one pilot killed and others missing after a sortie to Qatar in March, but news of their alleged capture was not publicised at the time.“Three Iranian pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war,” said General Mohammad Bagherzadeh of the Iranian armed forces, Fars news agency reported.Also read | What does the U.S.-Iran agreement say? | Explained“Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian have been held by Qatari forces for six months,” he said in a letter addressed to the International Committee of the Red Cross.August 16, 2026 06:45 Lebanon reports 11 dead in strikes that Israel says targeted HezbollahLebanon said Israeli strikes on the south killed 11 people, including three children, yesterday, the deadliest raids since deals in June eased hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.Lebanese leaders condemned the strikes, which Israel’s military said were in retaliation for an attack by the Iran-backed militant group, with one targeting a Hezbollah commander it accused of using his family as “human shields”.The strikes came as Israel and Lebanon were set to hold an eighth round of U.S.-sponsored direct negotiations early next month in Rome.- AFPAugust 16, 2026 06:43 Attacks continue in Strait of HormuzAs diplomacy stalls between the longtime foes, attacks in the Strait of Hormuz have continued, highlighting ongoing risks to regional shipping.The United Arab Emirates’ state-owned oil giant ADNOC said yesterday that one of its vessels came under attack the night before.Abu Dhabi’s Foreign Ministry later blamed Tehran, and said that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were engaged in “acts of piracy” in the strait.On Friday, the Gulf nation blamed Iran for other attacks on two vessels linked to ADNOC as they passed through the waterway.- AFPAugust 16, 2026 06:42 Iran fires back at Trump's threat to declare Hormuz a U.S. territoryIran yesterday fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory, saying the crucial energy waterway it has blockaded “will remain Iranian”.Iran fires back at Trump's threat to declare Hormuz a U.S. territoryIran rebuffs Trump’s claim to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, asserting it will remain under Iranian control.August 16, 2026 06:41 Iran demands release of downed pilots as Qatar denies holding themIran yesterday demanded that Qatar release three of Tehran’s pilots whose aircraft went down early in the West Asia war, though the Gulf state denied it was detaining them.Iran had previously reported one pilot killed and others missing after a sortie to Qatar in March, but news of their alleged capture was not publicised at the time.“Three Iranian pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war,” said General Mohammad Bagherzadeh of the Iranian armed forces, Fars news agency reported.“Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian and Omran Behraveshian have been held by Qatari forces for six months,” he said in a letter addressed to the International Committee of the Red Cross.- AFP Published - August 16, 2026 06:39 am IST