Iranian agency claims Israel planning ‘false flag’ attack after Flydubai incident

Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency on Wednesday claimed that Israel was planning a “false flag” attack on aircraft or airports in the region, hours after a serious incident involving a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.

Fars, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that Iranian security agencies had received intelligence about an alleged plan attributed to Israel’s Mossad. According to the agency, the purported operation would target an aircraft or airport and create a mass-casualty incident that could then be blamed on Iran.

Fars did not provide evidence to support the claim.

The report came after flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. The airline said the aircraft had experienced an incident en route and that all passengers were safe and accounted for.

Israeli officials said the incident involved a violent altercation between the pilots, with reports alleging that the co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane transmitted emergency and unlawful-interference signals before landing safely in Saudi Arabia. The circumstances remain under investigation.

Fars has previously accused Israel of carrying out or planning “false flag” operations, while Israel has accused Iran of involvement in attacks in the region.