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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly planned a “false flag” hijacking involving an Emirati aircraft in an effort to draw the United States into another war with Iran, Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported on Thursday.
Press TV cited an unnamed “well-informed regional source”, who alleged that an incident involving a “flydubai” flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday was part of the purported plan. The broadcaster did not identify the source or provide evidence to support the allegations.
What the report alleges
According to the source, the plan was discussed and finalised during a secret visit by Netanyahu to the United Arab Emirates three days before the flight incident. The source claimed that several senior Israeli military and intelligence officials accompanied him.
The discussions, which allegedly involved officials from several Arab countries, focused on devising an operation that could later be blamed on Iran, the source told Press TV. The alleged aim was to draw US President Donald Trump into another war with Iran.
The source also linked the purported plan to Netanyahu’s domestic political position, claiming he was concerned about his coalition’s prospects in upcoming parliamentary elections.
Flight makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia
The allegations followed an incident on Wednesday involving “flydubai” flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
“flydubai” said an “altercation occurred in the flight deck” and that crew members secured the aircraft before it was diverted safely to Saudi Arabia. Saudi airport authorities said the captain and first officer were injured and taken to hospital. All passengers and crew were reported safe.
Saudi Arabia’s National Transport Safety Center opened an investigation. “flydubai” later said it would temporarily suspend flights to and from Israel while the investigation continued, to allow authorities to “establish all the facts surrounding the incident”.
There was no immediate comment from Israel, the UAE or the United States on Press TV’s allegations.
