New Delhi, 02 October—FlyDubai alleged hijacking attempt by an Omani national co-pilot of Israel-bound flight from Dubai leading to emergency landing in Saudi Arabia is becoming intriguing with every passing day seen in the backdrop of statement from US President Donald Trump who warned saying that if Tehran is linked to the terrorist act then America would strike Iran “very hard”.
Trump said on 1 October that if Iran is linked to the copilot who tried to crash an Israel-bound flight, the Islamic Republic would be struck “very hard” for the attempt on the lives of more than 180 people aboard the jet.
Trump’s warning came as investigators worked to determine why the copilot stabbed the flight’s captain, causing the FlyDubai plane to plummet before others on board stopped the attack and landed the airliner in Saudi Arabia.
Many observers and experts are of the view that the US and Israel could launch an all-out military attack on Iran to boost the dwindling electoral fortunes of the Republican Party in the November mid-term elections and Israeli parliamentary election in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahi is seeking re-election. Experts don’t rule out that FlyDubai attempted hijacking was “stage managed”.
Relations between US, Israel and United Arab Emirates are very close and noting can be ruled out in this context. India’s relations with Washington, Tel Aviv and Dubai are also very cordial, former diplomats point out.
Trump was asked by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed about any links between the pilot behind the attack and Tehran. He said, “We’re working on it right now.”
“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” Trump said. He did not elaborate about why he suspects Iran might be involved.
Asked if the US would retaliate against Tehran if it was behind the attack, Trump said, “Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry.”
“You just ask them,” he added. “They know what happened. They’ll be hit very hard.”
His remarks came as diplomatic efforts to end the war appear to have stalled.
Iranian officials indicated Wednesday that they received an official US response to Tehran’s latest proposal to end the seven-month war, which Trump had publicly rejected just days earlier. The officials did not say what the response contained and whether it was a rejection.
Trump said in a Time magazine interview published Thursday that he will not accept proposals from Iran that “he wouldn’t have approved a year ago,” and left open the possibility of resuming bombing after the November 3 election in the US.
Meanwhile, the American military has dispatched roughly 9,000 troops aboard a group of ships to the Middle East, a US official said Thursday. That could mean three carriers will be in the region as soon as late October, according to the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.
Despite Trump’s public rebuff, mediators have continued working with Iran and the US to try to broker a deal to end the fighting and open the Strait of Hormuz, according to officials who were not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Media reports state that a regional official involved in the investigation said the suspect, an Omani citizen, was under arrest and confirmed that Saudi authorities were working with countries, including Israel, to try to determine a motive. He said the UAE, the United States and Oman also were involved. Saudi Arabia said the copilot had been handed over to the UAE.
“All possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders, are being looked into. Nothing is ruled out for now,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss an ongoing probe.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without giving details, claimed the attacker underwent Islamist indoctrination. Asked who helped radicalise him, the prime minister told Fox News channel’s “Fox and Friends” he did not know.
When asked by AP how the prime minister knew the copilot underwent indoctrination, Netanyahu’s office said it would not comment.
Netanyahu told Fox that the suspect apparently got through a loophole in Israeli aviation rules that normally bar pilots from flying to Israel if they are from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, which Oman does not.
Statements and comments from Tel Aviv and Washington including that of Israeli Prime Minister and the US President indicate that there is more to it than meets the ordinary eye.
Veteran Journalist and Political Commentator
