Iran: Ankara Requested Tehran's Assistance to Release Kidnapped Turkish Pilots

The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that Turkey had requested the Islamic republic's assistance to release the Turkish pilots who were kidnapped in Lebanon on Friday, reported the Fars news agency.

Spokesman for the Ministry Abbas Araghchi revealed that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had contacted his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi to make the request to find the pilots.

He added during a press conference that Iran condemns kidnappings regardless of their goals and regardless of where they are carried out, whether in Lebanon or Syria or any other country.

Had Iran had the capabilities to resolve this problem and find the pilots and all other captives, it would not hesitate to use them, he stressed.

He did cite however the release of 48 Iranians who were kidnapped in Syria in 2012 after a contacts were held with “friendly states.”

The Iranians were kidnapped in August 2012 and released in January 2013.

Syrian rebels captured them, deeming them Revolutionary Guards, while Iran said they were pilgrims.

They were freed in a swap for more than 2,000 regime prisoners.

A Turkish pilot and co-pilot were kidnapped by gunmen in Beirut on Friday.

Six gunmen intercepted a van carrying the Turkish Airlines employees from Rafik Hariri International Airport to a hotel in the Ain Mreisseh seafront at dawn Friday, kidnapping the two pilots - Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca - but leaving the four other crew members behind.

The attack prompted Turkey to issue a travel warning urging its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Lebanon and those already present in the country to leave.