Trump warns Iran of 'very hard' response over Israel flight incident
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran it would be struck "very hard" if found responsible for an incident involving a copilot's attack on an Israel-bound flight. Trump said Thursday that if Iran is linked to the copilot who attempted to crash the FlyDubai plane, the Islamic Republic would face severe consequences for the attack on more than 180 people aboard the jet.
Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, in which the copilot stabbed the flight's captain, causing the aircraft to plummet before others on board stopped the attack and landed the airliner in Saudi Arabia. When asked by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed about links between the pilot and Tehran, Trump said the U.S. is currently working on determining the connection. "Based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now," Trump stated, though he did not elaborate on the specific basis for suspecting Iranian involvement.
Trump's warning comes as diplomatic efforts to resolve the seven-month war appear to have stalled. Iranian officials indicated they received an official U.S. response to Tehran's latest proposal, though details remain unclear. The American military has simultaneously dispatched roughly 9,000 troops aboard a group of ships to the Middle East, potentially positioning three carriers in the region by late October.
