Trump Threatens Iran with Severe Retaliation Over Alleged Flydubai Attack
US President Donald Trump has issued a warning that Iran would face severe retaliation if it is determined to have been involved in an attack on a flydubai flight bound for Israel. The incident, which occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, involved a co-pilot who allegedly assaulted the captain before passengers intervened to prevent a crash. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot had undergone 'Islamist radical indoctrination.'
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump indicated that Tehran was likely behind the attack. When asked if Iran was involved, he said, 'I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now.' He further warned that if Iran was responsible, the United States would respond forcefully, saying, 'Oh, they'll be hit very hard, don't worry.'
Trump's comments came as he adopted a more aggressive stance on the ongoing conflict with Iran. In an interview with Time magazine published on Thursday, he suggested it was 'possible' that he might resume bombing Iran after the US midterm elections scheduled for next month. Republicans are concerned about losing control of Congress in the November 3 election, with Trump's approval ratings near record lows due to the Iran war and rising living costs driven by high oil prices.
He also repeated his threat to 'annihilate' Iran, which he first made in his speech to the UN General Assembly last week, despite having previously described himself as the 'president of peace.' In the Time interview, Trump said, 'Yeah, I would do that. It's possible. Because by annihilating Iran, we've created peace in the world. With Iran, I don't think you could ever have peace.'
More than seven months after the initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran continues to control the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Trump has stated that the war aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the United States is preparing to deploy a third aircraft carrier and up to 10,000 additional service members to the Middle East by the end of November, according to The Wall Street Journal. It remains unclear whether the new carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, will replace one of the two carriers already in the region.
The Journal also reported that Trump had told aides he expected to resume bombing by late November.
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