The Qatari MoD says the Qatar Emiri Air Force has shot down two Iranian Su-24s, as well as seven ballistic missiles and five drones.
As the third day of combat operations against Iran draws to an end, the Qatari Ministry of Defense has announced that the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) has shot down two Iranian Su-24 Fencer tactical bombers on Mar. 2, 2026. These would be first two Iranian aircraft confirmed to have been shot down since the start of the conflict.
— وزارة الدفاع – دولة قطر (@MOD_Qatar) March 2, 2026
Additionally, the MoD says the QEAF intercepted seven ballistic missiles through air defenses, while five drones were shot down by the QEAF and the Qatar Emiri Navy Forces. Earlier on the same day, the MoD disclosed that two drones targeted a power plant in Mesaieed and an energy facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, with damage yet to be assessed.
— وزارة الدفاع – دولة قطر (@MOD_Qatar) March 2, 2026
It is unclear which specific assets were used to intercept the two Su-24s, missiles and drones. The use of air defenses was only explicitly mentioned for the ballistic missiles, which would leave open the possibility of fighter aircraft being involved.
The QEAF operates three different fighter jets: the F-15QA Ababil, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale. It is worth noting that the service also operates the country’s surface-to-air missile systems, which include Patriot and NASAMS systems.
QEAF operates F-15QA, Rafale, and Typhoon. Eagle bros we might potentially be up… 106-0???
📸: Ashley Wallace https://t.co/huix1puNiQ pic.twitter.com/Jv4q3OsWfi
— Doha (@Doha1389960) March 2, 2026
Should the F-15QA have been the asset employed to shoot down the Su-24s, the combat record of the F-15 would increase even more, reaching 106-0 air-to-air kills. Notably, F-15QAs have been active since the beginning of the attack on Iran, and at least one was spotted on flight tracking websites.
Over 50,000 currently tracking this F-15QA Ababil of the Qatar Emiri AF pic.twitter.com/PUqfh1awnM
— RivetJoint (@SpeckleBelly64) March 1, 2026
Another asset which has been flying air defense missions in the last few days, and could possibly have been used against the Su-24s, is the Eurofighter Typhoon. Moreover, on Mar. 1, a Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 fighter deployed to Qatar with the joint British-Qatari No. 12 squadron shot down with an air-to-air missile an Iranian drone that was headed towards Qatar.
Today, a Royal Air Force Typhoon operating from Qatar as part of the joint UK–Qatar Typhoon Squadron, successfully took out an Iranian drone heading towards Qatar. pic.twitter.com/1WQTRk61gN
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 1, 2026
Regarding the reason for which Iranian Su-24s were flying towards Qatar, no details were disclosed. Iranian state media earlier claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force’s F-4E Phantom II fighter jets and other aircraft would be used to bomb U.S. bases in the region as retaliation.
This is a developing story, it will be updated as new details emerge.
