What happened
Iran is suspected of being involved in two recent terrorism-related incidents. The first incident involved the attempted hijacking of FlyDubai flight 1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers on board, mostly Israelis. The Omani co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane, but was thwarted. Investigators have found that the co-pilot underwent Islamist radical indoctrination.
A second incident occurred at a US-operated military base in Britain, where a dual UK-Iranian national was arrested following a security breach. The incidents have raised concerns about possible Iranian involvement, with US President Trump warning that Iran would face retaliation if found to be responsible.
The US is deploying additional military forces to the Middle East, including the USS Theodore Roosevelt and more Marines, in response to the incidents. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the co-pilot's actions appear to have been intended to bring down the plane with all passengers on board.
