Iran demands Qatar release captured pilots.

Iranian authorities said Saturday that three of Tehran’s pilots shot down early in the Middle East war are still being held in Qatar, and called on the Gulf state to free them. The announcement is the first public confirmation that the pilots were captured alive. Iran had previously reported one pilot killed and others missing after a mission to Qatar in March. “Three Iranian pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war,” said General Mohammad, without providing further details on their condition or location. The Su-24 is a twin-engine Russian-made bomber used for low-level strikes. Iran has not said why the jets were over Qatari territory at the time of the crash. Qatar has not yet responded to the demand. The release of the pilots could become a sticking point in ongoing regional negotiations.