Maad al-Ansari, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said that the fighter jets of the Islamic Republic that entered this country’s airspace had come to target Qatar’s sovereignty and the city of Doha, and after pilots did not respond to attempts to establish contact, they were dealt with in accordance with rules of engagement.

Al-Ansari said: “Our position was clear from day one. These fighter jets did not come to Qatar for entertainment. They came to target our sovereignty and threaten Qatar’s citizens and residents.”

He added that Qatar’s search and rescue teams immediately began their operations, and the operation ended on Farvardin 17 after the remains of one of the pilots’ bodies were found.

Al-Ansari said Qatar informed the Iranian side, and a delegation from Iran traveled to Qatar, took custody of the pilot’s body, and returned it to Iran.

He called the media statements of the Islamic Republic on this matter “completely unfounded” and “illogical,” and said that Qatar would not back down from its position to protect its sovereignty against any similar attack in the future.