Iran Continues Search for Three Missing Su-24 Pilots After Strike on Al Udeid Base

Iranian authorities are continuing efforts to determine the fate of three Air Force Su-24 pilots who went missing after participating in an operation against the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia. In a televised interview, Brigadier General Akraminia said the Iranian Army launched air operations against US military bases in the region two days after what Iran described as US and Israeli aggression on February 28, under plans prepared in advance.

Akraminia said one operation involved F-5 fighter jets targeting the Al Adiri base in Kuwait, while a separate mission saw Su-24 bombers strike the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. He described the Su-24 mission as one of the most complex operations carried out by the Iranian Air Force, citing the extensive deployment of enemy air defense systems across the region.

According to the spokesperson, four Air Force pilots took part in the Su-24 mission, including Second Brigadier General Majid Kazemi, whose remains were recently identified and returned to Iran after several months. Kazemi was subsequently laid to rest in the southern city of Shiraz. Iranian authorities said efforts remain underway to determine the fate of the three other missing pilots.