Trump threatens to strike Iran over Flydubai cockpit attack

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will be "hit very hard" if an investigation confirms its involvement in an attack aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident, which saw the co-pilot allegedly assault the captain before passengers subdued him, prompted an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Trump stated, "Oh, they will be hit very hard, don't worry," when asked about potential retaliation Source: El Colombiano, infobae, Euronews.

What happened

On October 1, a Flydubai Boeing 737 Max 8 en route to Tel Aviv with 174 people aboard was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the Omani co-pilot attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar. Passengers helped restrain the attacker and other pilots regained control of the aircraft Source: infobae. The plane lost thousands of feet of altitude and transmitted emergency codes 7700 and 7500, indicating a possible hijacking Source: infobae.

The reaction

• US response: Trump said the US is investigating a possible link to Iran, adding, "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes" Source: infobae, Euronews. The US has deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group is heading to the Middle East, joining two other carrier groups already in the region Source: El Colombiano, Euronews.
• Israeli view: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the suspect underwent "radical Islamist indoctrination" but cautioned it was "too early to say" if Iran was directly involved Source: infobae, Euronews.
• Investigations: The UAE has opened a probe to determine if the attack was terrorism, while Saudi Arabia transferred the co-pilot to the UAE for questioning Source: El Colombiano, Euronews.

What's next

Trump told Time magazine it was "possible" he could resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections, as Republicans fear losing Congress amid low approval ratings tied to the Iran war and rising oil prices Source: excelsiormx, listindiario. Iran claims it still controls the strategic Strait of Hormuz Source: excelsiormx.