World News

The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attacking a captain on a Tel Aviv-bound flight earlier this week allegedly used the cockpit's "crash axe" in the attack and has been identified as a 29-year-old Omani national.

The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, a Middle Eastern source told Fox News, adding that he was barred from flying with Oman Air — his country's airline — in 2024 due to concerns about extremist views.

The source also said authorities believe the co-pilot moved to Dubai later that year.

The United Arab Emirates, which is leading the investigation into the attack on FlyDubai Flight 1073, said the co-pilot attacked Capt. Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe, incapacitating him and causing the aircraft to plummet before passengers on board seized control of the plane.

FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING

The source said al-Hammami spent a significant part of his life outside Oman, including time living with his mother, who is from Syria.

According to the source, FlyDubai did not check with Oman Air about al-Hammami before hiring him.

A Gulf diplomat told The Associated Press that investigators are working to determine whether al-Hammami acted as a "lone wolf or has any connection with any extremist groups."

The AP separately reported that Oman had barred al-Hammami from flying over concerns that he had adopted extremist views.

HERO FLYDUBAI PILOT SAYS HE WAS 'FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE' AS PLANE PLUNGED AFTER COPILOT ATTACK

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday described the incident as an act of terrorism, saying the attacker had undergone "Islamic radicalization."

"He came to crash the passengers on board," Netanyahu said, according to The Wall Street Journal.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Fox News Digital's Brittany Miller contributed to this report.

The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain of a passenger jet mid-flight and nearly causing a catastrophic crash was grounded by Oman Air in 2024 after the airline discovered he had been visiting radical Islamic websites, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Authorities believe the co-pilot moved to Dubai later that same year, according to the source, who also told Fox News the co-pilot spent a significant part of his life outside Oman, including with his mother, who is from Syria.

According to the source, FlyDubai did not check with Oman Air about the co-pilot before hiring him.

FLYDUBAI PILOT SHOWED WORLD 'THE HIGHEST FORM OF COURAGE,' INDIA'S PM SAYS

The new details come as The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter, that the Omani national had previously been banned from flying over concerns he had adopted radical ideological views before later being hired by FlyDubai. The newspaper reported it was unclear whether Omani officials shared those concerns with other countries or airlines.

Fox News has not independently verified the reason the co-pilot was grounded by Oman Air.

The alleged attack unfolded Wednesday aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073 as the aircraft traveled from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

UNITED FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER PASSENGER'S 'MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS' TO BREACH COCKPIT

According to passengers and officials, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain inside the cockpit, sending the aircraft into a steep dive that nearly tore it apart before two reserve pilots aboard the flight regained control and safely diverted the aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Passengers and crew members then helped overpower the suspect, according to accounts of the incident.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday described the incident as terrorism, saying the attacker had undergone "Islamic radicalization."

"He came to crash the passengers on board," Netanyahu said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

UK AIRBASE TERROR SUSPECTS BEING RELEASED ON BAIL AS IRAN DENIES CONNECTION

Netanyahu also said Israeli authorities are investigating whether the suspect acted alone or had assistance from others.

The United Arab Emirates is leading the investigation into the incident. A UAE spokesperson declined to comment to the Journal on the suspect's background, saying officials did not want to prejudice the outcome of the investigation or interfere with its course.

The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of airline pilot vetting procedures and aviation security on flights serving Israel. Aviation security analysts told the Journal the episode represented a significant security failure and raised questions about how warning signs may have gone undetected before the co-pilot entered the cockpit.

FlyDubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv following the attack.

FlyDubai did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

British prosecutors announced terrorism charges Friday against a 28-year-old man already in custody for the alleged murder of a conservative politician.

The Crown Prosecution Service charged Joshua Kerry of South Yorkshire with one count of preparation of terrorist acts, accusing him of "engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism, including against [Reform UK leader] Nigel Farage MP." 

Kerry has been in the custody of His Majesty's government since late July, after he was arrested and accused of murdering former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe.

Prosecutors say Widdecombe was eating lunch in her Devon home July 8, when Kerry allegedly walked through the front door, beat her 21 times in the head with a hammer, took her wallet and was gone in an attack that lasted only two minutes.

IRAN PROBED IN ALLEGED TERRORISM PLOT AT UK BASE

Authorities say the latest charges against Kerry are related to events between May 31 and July 8. 

In a statement, Senior National Coordinator for Counterterrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said, "The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counterterrorism Policing network. This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of inquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge."

U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, posting on X, called the new charges against Kerry "extremely concerning" and sent her "profound sympathies" to the Farage family. She added that "an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all. This case raises serious questions about the security of those in public life." 

The Jo Cox Foundation, set up in honor of the Labour MP who was murdered in 2016, said in a statement, "No one in public life should have to fear for their safety. Violence, abuse and intimidation not only endangered individuals and their families, but threaten our democracy and have no place in public life. We must do more to prevent the rising levels of abuse and intimidation in politics."

Kerry is due back at Westminster Magistrates’ Court Wednesday.

Separately on Friday, Counterterrorism Policing announced charges against two Iranian men accused of plotting "to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area." 

The Crown Prosecution Service charged 36-year-old Salam Ahmadyan and 34-year-old Rahman Salehi with "engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006," alleging that two men were "in contact with an overseas third-party who may be in Iran in relation to the plot."  

SUSPECT CHARGED IN MURDER OF UK POLITICIAN ANNE WIDDECOMBE

Evans called the charges "extremely serious" while reiterating that "we do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter." 

Evans noted the alleged plot comes during the High Holy Day period and "coincides with the anniversary of the devastating terrorist attack last year at Heaton Park synagogue and comes in a wider context of increasing antisemitic incidents across the U.K."

Ahmadyan and Salehi have been remanded and are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court Saturday.

Fox News’ Thomas Ferraro and Stephanie Bennett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Violent student unrest intensified across France on Friday as riot police clashed with teenagers in several cities, roughly 400 high schools remained shuttered and authorities said some 2,000 people had been arrested since the protests began — while the government increasingly blamed the country’s hard left.

Tear gas filled streets in Strasbourg, protesters fired fireworks toward police lines in Marseille, and garbage bins were set ablaze in Rennes, while clashes also broke out in Paris, Reuters reported Friday. The latest violence marks a sharp escalation from the unrestt reported by Fox News Digital Thursday, when hundreds had been arrested as school blockades and clashes spread across the country.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told RTL radio Friday that approximately 2,000 people — most of them teenagers — had been arrested since the protests erupted. He said parents whose children damage property should be required to pay reparations, according to Reuters.

"In the streets, the children are in danger," Education Minister Édouard Geffray told BFM TV.

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR COMPARES FRANCE'S FAR-LEFT LEADER'S RHETORIC TO HITLER AS ANTISEMITISM SURGES

Euronews reported Friday that at least 65 school staff members, including 40 principals, have been injured since the unrest began, along with roughly 170 students. More than 100 high schools have suffered what Geffray described as "severe damage."

The protests began over complaints about overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, long school days and deteriorating facilities. Students have blamed years of underinvestment for conditions inside schools, as the government unveiled its draft 2027 budget Thursday. Under the proposal, education spending would rise 1.7% to 65.53 billion euros, excluding teacher pensions — an increase below the rate of inflation, according to Reuters.

But as the protests have grown more violent, the unrest has also become a major political fight.

French intelligence agencies told a government crisis meeting Thursday that the protest movement had been initiated by politicians from the hard-left France Unbowed Party, known as LFI, Reuters reported Friday.

FRENCH COURT CLEARS PATH FOR CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, BUT HOUSE ARREST THREATENS CAMPAIGN

LFI lawmakers rejected the allegation and accused President Emmanuel Macron's government of politicizing the protests ahead of France's 2027 presidential election.

Le Monde reported Friday that Geffray accused LFI of fueling the initial demonstrations before saying the movement had been "taken hostage by ultra-left groups." LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has denied responsibility for the violence.

Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, senior envoy to Europe at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital on Thursday that the unrest began with legitimate concerns but has since evolved into something far more serious.

"The students’ grievances about missing teachers and deteriorating schools were real at first," Rodan-Benzaquen said. "But dousing a principal in gasoline and attacking firefighters are acts of extreme violence. What makes this politically significant is the effort to turn frustration over schools into a much broader confrontation with the government."

The protests are quickly becoming a major issue in the campaign to succeed Macron next May, with Mélenchon denouncing the government’s response as repressive. Rodan-Benzaquen said LFI has "actively supported the mobilization," adding that "activists circulate footage of clashes, party accounts amplify it and elected officials present themselves as the students’ defenders."

"With an election next year," she said, "Mélenchon sees these mobilizations as a way to consolidate young voters and marginalize the moderate left. At a time of deep political, geopolitical and economic challenges, this is a very dangerous situation for France."

Marine Le Pen also accused LFI of playing a direct role in the unrest. "This is no longer about high school student protests. It is about riots organized by professionals and overseen by deputies from La France Insoumise," Le Pen wrote on X in a translated post. "We must pass a new anti-rioters law so that participation in a riot is a clearly identified offense."

PSG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VICTORY CAUSES CHAOS IN PARIS, WITH 45 ARRESTED AND FIRES SET ACROSS CITY

The government has now deployed specialized riot police and mobile gendarmes as authorities struggle to contain the unrest, Le Monde reported.

The government's response is also drawing scrutiny. Students and rights groups have accused police of excessive force against minors, including the use of batons, tear gas and non-lethal weapons. Amnesty International warned against excessive force, while France's Interior Ministry said Friday that three investigations into alleged police violence had been opened, according to Reuters.

The unrest may also be beginning to spread beyond France. Students in Liège, Belgium, began demonstrating Thursday, and high schools there were closed Friday.

Fox News Digital reached out to the French government, the Education Ministry, the Interior Ministry and La France Insoumise for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication.

Tyler Speicher and Reuters contributed to this story.

Capt. Smit Machchhar, the FlyDubai pilot who heroically opened the plane's cockpit door after being stabbed by his copilot in a midflight attack, told Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi he was fighting for his life before taking the heroic action.

"You are my biggest idol and I am feeling very proud that you called me and encouraged me. I was fighting for my life in that moment," he told Modi during a Friday phone call.

"It was a moment when I thought, because I had fallen on the floor, I was wounded and fell down. At that moment I thought if I don't get up, I've been flying for the last 17 years and I have been a captain for the last 11 years, and even if I shut my eyes, I can tell what is happening inside a plane. When I was lying on the floor, I could feel that the aircraft was plunging and I said to myself while I was getting beaten, 'this is the last push Smit, do it, the door is right there,'" he recalled.

"Somehow, I opened the door and everyone came in and everyone else had an equal role (in the rescue). I was trying to save myself but I also knew that I can't let anyone die," he said.

FLYDUBAI PILOT SHOWED WORLD 'THE HIGHEST FORM OF COURAGE,' INDIA'S PM SAYS

Machchhar’s ability to open the door allowed Israeli passengers on board to rush into the cockpit, incapacitate the copilot, and stabilize the quickly plummeting aircraft after it had plunged over 14,000 feet in 30 seconds.

FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING

The heroic pilot, whose efforts have garnered praise from Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and numerous passengers on the flight, said he turned to his faith to get through the harrowing ordeal.

"Whenever I'm in pain, I know only one thing, I chant the Hanuman Chalisa. I know that God saved me," Machchhar said.

FLYDUBAI PILOT SHOWED WORLD 'THE HIGHEST FORM OF COURAGE,' INDIA'S PM SAYS

Modi, in turn, told Machchhar that all of India was praying for him.

"Yesterday, prayers and chants were offered in all the temples and holy places, wishing for your long life, and we all are praying for your good health. You are going to be in good health very soon and India is very eager to welcome you," Modi said.

"People are chanting mantras. Your courage, patience, and presence of mind. You took a decision in a fraction of a second and saved the lives of so many people and today, the whole country can say this with pride — we Indians are not killers, we are life savers," Modi said. "And you endured so many wounds on your body and you are fighting a battle of life and death. In that moment as well, you did not think of your life, rather thought about the lives of the passengers. And the biggest thing is you enhanced the honor of 1.4 billion Indians and that is why I am feeling proud from my heart."

Machchhar was stabbed in the head and "his arm was basically split in two" during the attack, Netanyahu revealed to Fox News in a Thursday interview. But the pilot expressed hope that he would achieve a full recovery.

NETANYAHU PRAISES HEROIC BYSTANDER IN BLOODY COCKPIT ATTACK FOR PREVENTING ‘ANOTHER 9/11’

"I am not thinking about my wounds like typical wounds because that will hinder my recovery. I am taking these wounds like a journey which will progress slowly and it will take time, but I am very confident that this recovery will happen and I will be absolutely healthy," he told Modi.

After being stabilized in Saudi Arabia, where a second flight crew on board the plane safely landed the plane, Machchhar was taken to a hospital in the UAE, where he is now recovering.

FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING

"I am fine and everything is all right," he told Modi.

At least 83 flights operated by U.S.-sanctioned Iranian airlines landed in Turkey in the five days after a key American sanctions deadline, according to flight data analyzed by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, putting a new spotlight on whether Washington will enforce its escalating pressure campaign against companies servicing the carriers in a NATO ally.

The Sept. 28 FDD report said U.S. pressure has helped push Iranian airlines out of several regional markets, including Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, but found that Turkey remains a significant gap in Washington’s effort to ground the carriers.

The findings come after the Treasury Department announced sweeping new sanctions on Iran’s aviation industry on Sept. 8, designating all 27 remaining active Iranian airlines under Executive Order 13902. Treasury said Iran's aviation sector has been used to transport weapons, personnel and illicit cargo and warned foreign businesses about the risks of continuing to support sanctioned carriers.

TRUMP PUSHES F-35 SALE TO TURKEY, BUT HIS OWN STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS ERDOĞAN HASN'T MET LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The continued Iranian flights come at a sensitive moment in U.S.-Turkey relations. Turkey is a NATO ally, and President Donald Trump has publicly emphasized his close relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while signaling openness to restoring Ankara’s access to the F-35 fighter jet program. Turkey was removed from the program after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air-defense system, a move that also triggered U.S. sanctions in 2020.

During a July 2026 visit to Turkey, Trump said his administration would lift those sanctions and was considering allowing Ankara to buy F-35s, though congressional restrictions tied to Turkey’s possession of the S-400 remain an obstacle. Erdoğan said as recently as Sept. 24 that he expects Washington to take "concrete steps" toward Turkey’s return to the program.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that after a Sept. 23 wind-down deadline, companies providing sanctioned Iranian airlines with services such as fuel or landing support risked losing access to the U.S. financial system. FDD cited Bessent saying that by that date, Iranian airlines would be "shut down around the world."

But FDD researchers Ahmad Sharawi and Sinan Ciddi said their review of Flightradar24 flight histories showed that at least 83 flights operated by U.S.-sanctioned Iranian carriers landed in Turkey between Sept. 23 and Sept. 27, after that deadline had passed. The flights landed in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, according to the report.

The researchers identified 12 sanctioned Iranian airlines among the arrivals. Iran Airtour and Caspian Airlines each accounted for 12 landings, Iran Air for 10, and ATA Airlines and AVA Airlines for nine each, according to FDD. Eight of the 12 carriers identified in the flight data were among the airlines newly designated by Treasury on Sept. 8.

IRAN LOSES KEY ECONOMIC LIFELINE IN MIDDLE EAST THAT TRUMP'S SANCTIONS COULDN'T REACH AS DEADLOCK PERSISTS

The Treasury Department told Fox News Digital that it has continued raising the issue directly with senior Turkish officials and has warned Turkish companies and financial institutions about their potential sanctions exposure.

"Following Treasury’s productive engagements with senior Turkish authorities last month, which quickly translated into tangible results — including the cancellation of Mahan Air flights and the revocation of Bank Mellat’s license — we have continued discussions regarding Türkiye’s aviation links to Iran and the sanctions exposure Turkish financial institutions and businesses face for facilitating these flights," a Treasury spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We have made those risks clear and continue to address these issues at senior levels with the Turkish government," the spokesperson said.

The Treasury spokesperson pointed to the administration’s broader "Operation Economic Outcast" campaign, saying it was producing results as Washington seeks to cut off Iran’s remaining sources of revenue and access to international markets. "Operation Economic Outcast is delivering results as Treasury and our partners continue to sever the Iranian regime’s remaining economic lifelines," the spokesperson said. "Iran’s rial has fallen to record lows, Iran loaded no crude oil onto tankers in September, and countries across the region are taking concrete steps to restrict Iran’s access to the international financial system and commercial aviation."

"We will continue applying pressure and holding accountable those who provide the regime with the financial and commercial lifelines it needs to sustain its terrorist activities," the spokesperson added.

Turkey has indeed taken some steps to limit aviation ties with Iran. Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus removed flights to Iran from their schedules, while Mahan Air suspended service to Turkey beginning Sept. 21, according to Turkish Minute, citing airline schedules and reporting by the Financial Times and other outlets.

Mahan Air has been under U.S. sanctions since 2011. The Treasury Department said at the time that the airline provided financial, material and technological support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.

Other sanctioned Iranian airlines, however, have continued flying into Turkey. Caspian Airlines and Meraj Air were designated by Treasury as Specially Designated Global Terrorists in August 2014. Treasury said Caspian had transported IRGC personnel and weapons to Syria and said Meraj had ferried illicit cargo, including weapons, to the Syrian government.

Sharawi told Fox News Digital that the continued flights reflect a gap between Ankara’s public steps and its handling of sanctioned Iranian carriers.

"The fact that sanctioned Iranian airlines continue to land in Turkey, despite Washington’s clear effort to restrict their operations, is a testament to Ankara’s willingness to take symbolic measures while turning a blind eye to much of Iran’s broader activity," Sharawi said.

MILLIONS OF BARRELS OF IRANIAN OIL SIT BEYOND TRUMP BLOCKADE AS HE VOWS ‘ZERO LEAKAGE’

Sharawi argued that Washington could increase pressure by targeting Turkish companies that continue providing services to sanctioned Iranian carriers.

"Ankara may think it can get away with this, but Washington has not hesitated in the past to sanction Turkish entities that support sanctioned Iranian actors," he told Fox News Digital. "Continuing to target companies that provide that support would send a clear message to Ankara that facilitating Iran’s sanctioned networks will carry consequences."

He said such measures could have a practical effect on Iran’s ability to maintain the routes.

"If the United States targets the support system that keeps these sanctioned Iranian carriers operating, private Turkish companies will have much less incentive to continue doing business with them," Sharawi said. "If those companies begin cutting ties, it could significantly restrict Iranian airlines’ ability to operate routes to Turkey."

The Turkey findings come as another advocacy group is raising concerns about a different potential weak point in Washington’s campaign to isolate Tehran: Iranian maritime commerce in waters near Malaysia.

United Against Nuclear Iran said Sept. 25 that its investigators traveled roughly 100 nautical miles into the South China Sea near Malaysia’s Eastern Outer Port Limits, where the group said it observed Iranian-linked tankers, cargo vessels and bulk carriers alongside Malaysian bunker vessels supplying ships with fuel. UANI described the concentration of ships as a "floating city" supporting Iran’s sanctions-evasion network. Those findings were produced by UANI and have not been independently verified for this draft.

EXCLUSIVE: RUSSIAN DOCUMENT REVEALS SWEEPING IRAN PLAN SPANNING NUCLEAR, FINANCE AND AVIATION

"After seeing this floating city of ghost tankers with our own eyes, it is clear it is serving as an illicit Malaysia-backed lifeline for the Iranian regime," UANI CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace said in a Sept. 25 statement. He accused Malaysian entities of providing support that allows Tehran to continue generating revenue despite international efforts to economically isolate the regime.

Former Florida Gov. and UANI Chairman Jeb Bush and Wallace called on the Treasury Department to sanction entities associated with Malaysia’s Pengerang petroleum complex as well as Malaysian entities or officials they allege are facilitating the trade. Their call for sanctions is an advocacy position and does not establish that the Malaysian entities have violated U.S. law.

Fox News Digital has learned that Treasury has mapped Iranian oil-smuggling networks, facilitators and financial channels, including deceptive shipping activity off the coast of Malaysia, and that senior Treasury officials continue to raise the issue with Malaysian and other foreign government counterparts.

Taken together, the findings from FDD and UANI highlight what the organizations describe as continuing enforcement challenges as Washington attempts to cut Iran off from international aviation, shipping and financial networks. Treasury has continued expanding that campaign: on Sept. 29, it announced another round of sanctions targeting individuals and companies it said had procured weapons and components for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Turkish and Malaysian embassies for comment but did not receive a response.

A U.S. Department of Energy worker from Richland, Washington, was arrested Thursday and charged with attempting to provide "material support" to the Iran-backed Houthis, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, is accused of attempting to use his electrical engineering knowledge and background to support the terrorist group in improving its mobile communications infrastructure, secure components for drones as well as chemicals for homemade explosives.

"As alleged, a U.S. government employee traveled overseas and used his specialized expertise in an attempt to aid the Houthis, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization backed by Iran," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said in a statement.

"Additionally, Ellaboudy acquired materials for the construction of explosive material and drones capable of delivering these explosives. These allegations are so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination."

IRAN’S PROXY WAR HAS CROSSED OCEANS AND IS NOW KNOCKING ON AMERICA’S DOOR

Federal authorities took Ellaboudy into custody following an investigation by the FBI’s Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force.

According to court records, Ellaboudy first attracted the FBI’s attention after buying precursor chemicals, or starting ingredients, and components that are often used in homemade explosives, as well as parts to make drones.

The DOJ said that in 2024, Ellaboudy took sick leave from his Department of Energy job and said he had been exposed to highly concentrated nitric acid — a key chemical compound used in explosive manufacturing.

FBI OFFERS $200K REWARD FOR FORMER AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE AGENT ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR IRAN

In 2025, prosecutors allege Ellaboudy used an official passport from his previous role with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to travel from Washington state to Oman.

He then crossed into Yemen. After returning to the U.S., Ellaboudy told border officers his trip was authorized government business.

Investigators also said Ellaboudy advised an undercover FBI confidential human source posing as a representative of a Houthi colonel.

For the Houthis, Ellaboudy allegedly tested solar generators, modified power systems, created circuit schematics and provided support to the group’s communications, the statement said.

NAVY VETERAN AMONG TRIO WHO ALLEGEDLY WANTED TO BEHEAD SOLDIER AND FUND ISIS DRONE ATTACKS ON AMERICANS

"This individual allegedly betrayed the U.S. and attempted to aid the Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organization, but thanks to the work of the men and women of the FBI, his actions were detected and he is now in custody," said Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.

Officials also confirmed Ellaboudy's alleged activities did not target local nuclear facilities.

"This matter did not involve an attempt to harm the Hanford Site or its workforce, and at no time was there a threat to the safety or security of the site," said Ray Geimer, office manager of the Department of Energy Hanford Field Office.

Ellaboudy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.

He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before a federal magistrate judge at 11 a.m. Oct. 2 in Richland, according to the Justice Department.

More than 625 people, mostly students, have been arrested over two days of violent protests near schools and universities across France over what students say are staffing shortages, dilapidated buildings, overcrowded classes, government budget cuts and long schedules.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting Thursday, canceling ministers’ trips to focus on the protests, which began last week in Paris-region schools and have snowballed. 

EUROPE’S LEFT COURTS MUSLIM VOTERS AS ANTI-ISRAEL POLITICS RESHAPE CONTINENT

Reports say over 350 high schools and about 30 university campuses were affected by the movement on Thursday alone. RFI reported 83 police and gendarmes were wounded today, with 119 students and school staffers injured since the start of unrest last week.

Reuters reported the principal of Marseille’s Victor Hugo high school was doused in gasoline and injured, while two other principals were injured in attacks in Rouen and Petit-Quevilly. Police used tear gas in several cities, with Reuters reporting students accusing authorities of heavy‑handed tactics. Meanwhile, authorities are warning of "urban violence" and attempted arson at multiple schools.

The protests coincide with the government announcing a series of unpopular spending cuts in its 2027 budget two weeks ago and have become a political flashpoint at a ​sensitive moment for the French government.

GLOBAL RISE IN ANTISEMITISM LEAVES JEWISH COMMUNITY ISOLATED; RABBI SAYS WORLD AT 'A TIPPING POINT'

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told Reuters that, "in certain places, there were individuals acting as agitators — people who moved from one school to another to stir up high school and other students and incite them to commit acts of violence." Education Minister Edouard Geffray called for schools to hold classes remotely if protesters were blocking their premises, posting on X: "Violence will not keep our students from their fundamental right to ​an education."

Senior Envoy to Europe at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Simone Rodan-Benzaquen told Fox News Digital, "The students’ grievances about missing teachers and deteriorating schools were real at first. But dousing a principal in gasoline and attacking firefighters are acts of extreme violence. What makes this politically significant is the effort to turn frustration over schools into a much broader confrontation with the government."

The Associated Press reported the protests are quickly blowing up as a hot topic in the election campaign to replace President Emmanuel Macron next May. Far-left presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon has decried the government response to the protests as repressive. Critics have accused his party, La France Insoumise, (LFI), of seeking to use the unrest to score points in the presidential campaign and of inciting violence.

GERMAN OFFICIALS WARN ISLAMIST, FAR-LEFT RHETORIC DRIVING SPIKE IN ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS

Rodan-Benzaquen says the LFI has "actively supported the mobilization. Activists circulate footage of clashes, party accounts amplify it and elected officials present themselves as the students’ defenders." With an election next year, she said, "Mélenchon sees these mobilizations as a way to consolidate young voters and marginalize the moderate left. At a time of deep political, geopolitical and economic challenges, this is a very dangerous situation for France."

Video posted to social media shows the Seine-Saint Denis mayor, Bally Bagayoko of the LFI, joining in with students, smiling and high-fiving pupils after a trash can was set on fire in the street. And the president of the Île‑de‑France region told Radio Monte Carlo, "There is a call to action being issued by LFI today: ‘Trash your high school.’ It is being spread via TikTok challenges."

In Madrid on Wednesday, Macron told reporters, "High schools are meant to be open and to share knowledge. They are not meant to be blockaded or to have trash cans set on fire."

The Associated Press, Reuters contributed to this report.

Bolivia’s mounting security challenge is emerging as one of the first real-world tests of President Donald Trump’s Shield of the Americas, the country’s defense minister told Fox News Digital, as security forces deploy to strategic locations and the government braces for renewed unrest.

"I believe this is one of the first real tests of whether Shield of the Americas can move from declarations to concrete results," Bolivian Defense Minister Ernesto Justiniano told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.

But Justiniano stressed that Bolivia is not declaring that a coup attempt is underway. "I am not saying today that we have proven evidence of a specific operation currently underway to overthrow the President," he said. "What we do have are very serious precedents and warning signs that justify preventive action."

Trump launched Shield of the Americas at a March summit in Florida, bringing together governments across the Western Hemisphere to deepen economic and security cooperation, including efforts to combat transnational crime.

TRUMP ADMIN BACKS BOLIVIA STATE OF EMERGENCY AS LEFTIST EX-LEADER'S LOYALISTS FRACTURE NATION

Justiniano's comments come as President Rodrigo Paz’s government attempts to prevent a repeat of more than 50 days of road blockades earlier this year that caused shortages of food, fuel and medicine and deepened the country’s economic crisis. On Sept. 17, Bolivia’s Assembly approved a 90-day extension of the country’s state of emergency, citing persistent risks of renewed blockades. Some opposition lawmakers and social groups criticized the measure, arguing that it failed to address the underlying causes of the unrest. Reuters

A U.S. official told Fox News Digital that, "The United States is unwavering in its commitment to support Bolivia’s democracy and the Paz Administration as it rebuilds the country after 20 years of failed socialist policies. The Trump Administration will continue to stand with Bolivia as it works toward stability, security, and a better future for all Bolivians."

"The threat is serious enough for us to take preventive measures, but I do not want to portray a government that is under siege or weak," Justiniano said. "There is one fundamental difference: Bolivia learned… We do not confuse legitimate social discontent with a threat to democracy. People may agree or disagree with our economic policies. They can march, protest and challenge the government. That is democracy. What is not democratic is trying to impose a decision through violence, indefinite blockades or threats against the constitutional order."

The defense minister confirmed that police and military forces have already been deployed preventively around the country.

‘WAVE OF FREEDOM’ SWEEPS LATIN AMERICA AS TRUMP ALLY TAKES FIGHT TO MARXIST TERROR GROUP

"There is a preventive deployment in different parts of the country, particularly along strategic routes, access points to major cities and locations considered sensitive for freedom of movement, supply lines and the protection of critical infrastructure," Justiniano said.

He declined to provide exact locations, troop numbers or unit movements, saying the scale of the deployment would change according to the level of risk.

The unfolding situation comes just days after Trump hosted leaders participating in Shield of the Americas on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22. The White House has described the initiative as an alliance focused on economic and national security in the Western Hemisphere. The White House

PRESIDENT PAZ: BOLIVIA HAS REJECTED SOCIALISM AND IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "the United States values its close partnership with Bolivia, a Shield of the Americas participant, to advance economic growth and solve the security challenges posed by corruption and transnational crime."

"President Paz survived 53 days of blockades and violent attempts to undermine his presidency," the spokesperson said. "As the country’s elected leader, we support his administration’s ongoing work to repair Bolivia’s economy after more than 20 years of corrupt mismanagement by Evo Morales’s Movement towards Socialism (MAS) party."

The State Department also said visa restrictions announced Sept. 28 targeted Bolivian nationals whom Washington says are undermining "the security and governance progress President Paz and his administration are achieving," adding that the actions "reinforce, not undercut, our cooperation."

The Trump administration revoked visas for 27 officials, former officials and relatives across Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, according to the Associated Press. Among those affected was Bolivian Prosecutor General Roger Mariaca, whom the State Department accused of corruption and facilitating narcotrafficking. Mariaca has rejected the allegations.

Justiniano said Bolivia has formally requested the information underlying the U.S. action.

"The case of Bolivia’s Prosecutor General, Roger Mariaca, is particularly serious because the U.S. government has publicly made specific allegations involving corruption and the facilitation of drug trafficking," he said.

But the defense minister cautioned against drawing a direct connection between those affected by the visa restrictions and the current unrest. "It would be irresponsible for me to automatically state that everyone affected by those measures is connected to the current mobilizations," Justiniano said. "We do not have public evidence that would justify that generalization."

Asked what assistance Washington is providing in response to the current threat, Justiniano declined to say whether the U.S. was supplying operational intelligence or other direct assistance.

EXCLUSIVE: FBI EXTRADITIONS SOAR AS PATEL RAMPS UP FOREIGN OUTREACH, VOWS 'NO SANCTUARY'

"What I can say is that Bolivia wants to deepen this cooperation," he said.

Justiniano said Bolivia is seeking closer cooperation with the United States on information sharing, financial intelligence, counter-narcotics, organized crime, border security, extraditions, training and institutional strengthening.

That push was already evident last week, when Bolivian Minister of the Presidency Fernando Aramayo told Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that the Paz government views its struggle against organized crime as part of a wider regional challenge.

"We recognize the legitimacy of protests and demonstrations that demand responses from the government," Aramayo said. "What we are attacking right now is all the attacks against our democracy that have been financed by narco-traffic money and organized international crime."

Aramayo said the government had received support from Washington. "The White House has supported us and other countries in this fight against these dark forces," he said, adding that Bolivia was "very proud of being part of this mechanism like the Shield of Americas."

Asked whether state actors were also involved in fueling the unrest, Aramayo said corruption and organized crime had become deeply embedded during the previous two decades, claiming that institutions, social and political leaders and private-sector actors had become entangled with transnational criminal organizations.

Justiniano stressed that the military deployments are not intended to suppress peaceful demonstrations and said police retain primary responsibility for public order.

"We are preparing for a risk, not declaring that a coup is underway," he said.

The distinction goes to the heart of the challenge confronting Shield of the Americas: how a regional initiative built in part to combat cartels and transnational organized crime operates when a member government says those networks are intersecting with domestic political unrest.

Hezbollah terrorists in Yemen received $157M worth of weapons in 2024, most of it given freely by Iran, according to a new report from the Israeli nonprofit Center for Research of Terror Financing.

The report, titled Hezbollah Financial Statements, relied on open-source data as well as known valuations of Hezbollah's military assets, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The report found that Hezbollah spent just $28 million on procuring weapons, and those were limited to small arms, ammunition, drone components, dual-use equipment, and equipment obtained through its international procurement networks.

EXCLUSIVE: ISRAEL SEIZES VAST IRAN TERROR AXIS ARSENAL WITH SURPRISING FOREIGN ORIGINS

Meanwhile, CENTEF Iran provided roughly $129 million worth of weapons as an in-kind grant, including rockets, missiles, drones, ATGMs, air-defense systems, ammunition, launchers, naval equipment, and IED-related assets.

The CENTEF analysis found that Hezbollah acquired 4,000 short-range Katyusha rockets, 400 Falaq-1 and 2 rockets, and 120 Burkan rockets in 2024. The short range rockets are estimated to cost $300 per unit, while the Burkan rockets are estimated to cost $400.

IDF UNCOVERS HEZBOLLAH WEAPONS STASH INSIDE HOSPITAL IN LEBANON

The report also detailed more sophisticated weaponry obtained by Hezbollah, including Iran’s Fajr series and Syrian-origin heavy rockets. The Fajr-3 is a 240mm artillery rocket armed with a 45-kilogram warhead, while the Fajr-5 is a 333mm rocket with a GPS-guided Fajr-5C variant, according to the Post.

The rockets are estimated to cost $2,000 to $10,000, and CENTEF estimates Hezbollah obtained 600 of them in 2024.

HEZBOLLAH'S 'GAME CHANGING' NIGHT-HUNTING WEAPON PUNCHES THROUGH ISRAEL'S DEFENSES: EXPERT

Anti-tank guided missiles make up a major portion of Hezbollah's arsenal. The research found that The Russian-made Kornet and Iran's reverse-engineered Dehlavieh make up the bulk of Hezbollah's ATGMs, with the former costing approximately $26,000 per round and the latter costing an estimated $12,000 to $15,000, according to the Post.

Hezbollah has expended vast measures of its arsenal in its attacks against Israel over the past year, and Israeli forces have decimated the group's leadership ranks.

IDF ANNOUNCES ELIMINATION OF HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER BEHIND MURDER OF 5 AMERICAN SOLDIERS

IDF Lt. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zehavi, the founder and president of the Israel-based Alma Research and Education Center told Fox News Digital earlier this month that IDF has decimated 90% of Hezbollah’s rocket and missile arsenal.

"Today Hezbollah is holding between 10,000 to 15,000 rockets, which is much less than what it used to have. Most of the array of sophisticated missiles, accurate missiles and long-range missiles was either eliminated or neutralized," Zehavi said.

Fox News' Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.

The Indian pilot being credited with helping save the lives of 174 passengers after being stabbed on a FlyDubai aircraft heading to Israel has "shown the world the highest form of courage," India’s prime minister said.

Narendra Modi said Thursday that Capt. Smit Machchhar, "without fearing for his own life," had "fought valiantly and prevented another 9/11-like attack from happening" on Wednesday aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, which had to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Modi added that India is saluting Machchhar and is "praying for his wellbeing." The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia described the "brave" pilot as being in stable condition after being taken to a hospital.

"Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain of FlyDubai Flight 1073, fought back after being stabbed in the cockpit," according to the Israel Foreign Ministry. "Despite being severely injured, he managed to unlock the cockpit door – allowing Israeli passengers and the Emirati crew to intervene and save all the passengers."

LIVE UPDATES: FOUR AMERICANS WERE ON FLYDUBAI PLANE WHEN STABBING BROKE OUT, STATE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMS

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said on Wednesday there was "no doubt" that a FlyDubai pilot who allegedly stabbed Machchhar was attempting to bring down the plane, calling it a miracle that the aircraft was able to land safely.

"We have no doubt that it was a terror attack of a radical individual," Danon said on Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle."

"We know that there was an intention to bring that plane down, and we are grateful," he continued.

After the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia, another FlyDubai aircraft was brought in to bring the passengers to their destination of Tel Aviv.

"I did speak to [Israeli Prime Minister] Bibi [Benjamin] Netanyahu at length about this event, and it seems as though the copilot was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job. And he stabbed the pilot," President Donald Trump said Wednesday.

NETANYAHU PRAISES HEROIC BYSTANDER IN BLOODY FLYDUBAI COCKPIT ATTACK

Machchhar’s LinkedIn profile stated he has worked for FlyDubai for about four years, according to The Associated Press.

Before joining the airline, Machchhar, who is from Mumbai, spent 11 years with SpiceJet, an Indian low-cost carrier, where he served as a senior commander and line training captain. He logged more than 9,750 flying hours with SpiceJet, according to the profile.

SpiceJet, in a post on X, praised Machchhar’s "heroic courage" and "selfless actions."

"You are a hero to us all, Captain," the airline wrote.

Machchhar, who is married and has two children, trained as a pilot at Mainland Air in the New Zealand city of Dunedin for 18 months, beginning in 2008, the school’s head Philip Kean told 1News, a New Zealand television news channel.

Shota Musayev, a dentist and eyewitness, told The Associated Press how the wounded Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door to let passengers in before they grappled with the copilot.

Musayev then treated Machchhar.

"Poor pilot, he was just praying the whole time and was in contact with me, and I was afraid we would really lose him," Musayev said.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz, Stepheny Price and The Associated Press contributed to this post.

UNITED NATIONS — Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of "hypocritical and provocative" rhetoric over Gaza while warning that Ankara is trying to obstruct a major energy project linking Israel, Cyprus and Europe.

"Turkey has been making threats and has been acting on threats against Cyprus, especially in the exclusive economic zone," Kombos told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

Kombos pointed to the Great Sea Interconnector, a planned subsea electricity cable linking Israel to Cyprus and Cyprus to Greece, connecting the island to Europe’s power grid.

TRUMP'S AMBITIOUS ENERGY BET COULD BE A WINNING HAND AS THE WORLD BURNS MORE OIL, GAS THAN EVER

"The main project of the electrical connection between Greece-Cyprus and then Cyprus-Israel has been blocked by Turkey because of illegal claims they have in terms of delimitation in the exclusive economic zone," Kombos said.

The roughly €1.9 billion Great Sea Interconnector is designed to carry up to 1,000 megawatts across more than 1,200 kilometers of subsea cable. The EU has committed €657 million to the Cyprus-Crete section, which is intended to end Cyprus’ isolation from the European electricity system and eventually connect Israel more directly to the European market.

TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST ENERGY VICTORIES ARE A HUGE REMINDER OF AMERICA'S DOMINANCE

The project has faced financial delays and geopolitical tensions tied to competing Greek and Turkish maritime claims in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"The fact that we have someone challenging all the bases and all the norms of international law cannot be the answer to how we plan the future of our people," Kombos said.

Those tensions also framed his sharp response to Erdoğan’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly.

"We decided to stay in the room and hear Mr. Erdogan’s speech," Kombos said, referring to himself and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. "And we are both, at the same time, thinking that this is hypocritical and provocative."

Kombos said Erdoğan’s appeals to the U.N. Charter stood in stark contrast to Turkey’s record on the divided Mediterranean island.

"It’s an ongoing violation, an act of aggression, of invasion, of occupation," he said. "So it’s a very clear example of a distance between rhetoric and action, words and deeds."

MIDDLE EAST TAKES CENTER STAGE AT UN AS REGIONAL LEADERS CONFRONT IRAN WAR, GAZA AND HOUTHI THREAT

Erdoğan delivered a blistering attack on Israel during his Sept. 22 U.N. address, accusing the Israeli government of refusing to end its "occupation" and saying Gaza had become "the most inhumane and shameful concentration camp of our time." He also accused Israel of having a "genocidal mindset." Israel has repeatedly rejected allegations that it is committing genocide in Gaza.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a coup backed by Greece’s then-military junta was followed by a Turkish military intervention that left the island split. The internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus controls the south, while the northern third is administered by Turkish Cypriots with Turkey’s support. The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey, and a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone separates the two sides.

Efforts to reunify the island have repeatedly stalled. The U.N.-backed framework has centered on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, while Turkey has in recent years backed a two-state solution.

Kombos said Cyprus wants negotiations to resume from where they broke down in 2017 but argued that progress ultimately depends on Ankara.

"We need Turkey to give the green light to the Turkish Cypriot leadership," he said, adding that a two-state approach "runs contrary to everything this very organization and the United Nations Security Council have decided."

The U.N. has recently stepped up efforts to revive the process. Secretary-General António Guterres traveled to Cyprus from July 28-29, meeting separately and jointly with Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman in an effort to advance talks toward a "comprehensive and sustainable settlement."

TRUMP COULD HAND PRIZED STEALTH JETS TO NATO ALLY ONCE SEEN AS ALLIANCE HEADACHE

Kombos also raised concern over the possibility of Turkey obtaining U.S. F-35 fighter jets.

"This is something that is of concern to us, of course, as well as to other countries in the region," he said. "We cannot just accept this as the usual day at the office. This is something that’s important. It’s upsetting regional balances."

At the same time, Cyprus has moved significantly closer to Washington.

Kombos said the U.S.-Cyprus relationship is "probably right now at the highest level we have ever been," pointing to strategic dialogue, military cooperation, joint exercises and work to make Cypriot facilities compatible with assets used by the US and NATO partners.

Earlier this month, Washington renewed Cyprus’ exemption from U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations restrictions for fiscal year 2027, allowing transfers of US defense articles and services. Cyprus is also eligible for US Foreign Military Sales and the Excess Defense Articles program.

"We want to make sure that we are an active, useful partner in the international system," Kombos said, arguing that Cyprus’ location and close ties with Israel, Gulf states, Europe and the US give it an increasingly important regional role.

Russia’s warning that it could resort to nuclear weapons if NATO attempts to isolate Kaliningrad is raising new concerns that the heavily militarized Russian exclave could become a flashpoint between Moscow and the alliance, as experts warn the territory is already being used to pressure Europe through hybrid warfare.

Moscow warned NATO in a diplomatic document that it was prepared to use "the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons" if alliance members attempted to isolate Kaliningrad from the rest of Russia, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Kaliningrad, a Russian territory geographically separated from the Russian mainland, sits on the Baltic Sea between NATO members Poland and Lithuania and hosts significant Russian military assets, including elements of Moscow’s Baltic Fleet.

RUSSIA THREATENS STRIKES ON UK MILITARY TARGETS, ‘CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES’ OVER UKRAINE

The Russian document also raised the possibility of strikes against "decision-making centers" in NATO member states from the outset of a conflict.

NATO rejected Moscow’s allegations in a response reviewed by Fox News Digital, saying the alliance is defensive and that none of its exercises or activities threaten Russian territory. The alliance also urged Russia to stop its "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric."

Carrie Filipetti, executive director of the Vandenberg Coalition, a nonpartisan network of foreign policy leaders, told Fox News Digital that Moscow has repeatedly used nuclear threats as a means of trying to deter Western support for Ukraine.

"Russia has threatened to use nuclear weapons in the past, including veiled references to tactical nuclear attacks at the beginning of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, lowering their formal threshold for launching a nuclear attack in 2024, placing Russia's nuclear forces on high alert, and restarting nuclear testing," Filipetti said. "It is very common for Putin to use these threats, because he sees it as a way to deter Europe and the United States from continuing to support Ukraine."

SHE GREW UP UNDER SOVIET RULE. NOW EU'S TOP DIPLOMAT WARNS EUROPE AGAINST GIVING RUSSIA WHAT IT WANTS

"The threat about a nuclear attack if Kaliningrad is threatened or isolated comes on the heels of a few developments," she added, pointing to NATO jets being scrambled over Russian aircraft, U.S. and NATO air drills near Kaliningrad last month, and heightened tensions over the war in Ukraine.

Filipetti, who also served as a deputy assistant secretary at the State Department and as a senior policy advisor for the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN), argued that the timing also reflects mounting pressure on Moscow as the war continues.

"Putin seems to understand that the tide is turning against him, and he's resorting to aggressive rhetoric to try to stop European support for Ukraine as he has tried to do in the past," she said.

Dr. Azeem Ibrahim, a research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College and chief strategy officer at the New Lines Institute, told Fox News Digital that NATO should take the warning seriously, particularly because of the broader role Kaliningrad is already playing in Moscow’s confrontation with Europe.

BATTLE-TESTED ZELENSKYY SOUNDS CHILLING ALARM ON WHERE PUTIN’S WAR COULD HEAD NEXT

Ibrahim argued that while NATO has traditionally prepared for conventional military conflict involving "tanks and troops and divisions," Russia is increasingly using methods designed to disrupt the infrastructure and systems on which civilian societies depend.

"Russia is actually adopting a very different approach," he said, describing a strategy of hybrid warfare targeting "infrastructure" and "societies in general — what keeps societies functioning."

Ibrahim described Kaliningrad as the "front line" of that effort.

"It’s essentially become a Russian fortress," he said. "This is essentially a front-line operation of the Russians in terms of signals intelligence, signals interference and essentially mechanisms by which to carry out this hybrid warfare."

Such interference, Ibrahim said, could play a role in the broader confrontation by disrupting civilian communications and infrastructure before or alongside a conventional military attack.

"All of that would be preceded by interference operations like this to ensure that societies are not functioning, are not able to respond to emergency services, the news information services, etc.," Ibrahim said. "So governments lose control over what actually makes societies function."

RUSSIA'S SHADOW WAR IS PUTTING EUROPE ON EDGE AS GERMANY CONFRONTS A GROWING THREAT

The challenge for NATO, he said, is that such operations can be more difficult to attribute than a conventional assault.

"Many times, you cannot trace exactly where a lot of this interference is actually coming from — attacks on power stations or internet and telecommunications, et cetera," Ibrahim said. "There’s always some sort of plausible deniability if it’s done by an actor who's very capable."

The ambiguity, Ibrahim argued, presents a challenge for an alliance built around collective defense against armed attack.

"NATO really does have to kind of reconfigure its posture to understand that these kinds of attacks are equivalent to essentially any sort of kinetic attack," he said.

Asked what NATO and neighboring Poland and Lithuania should do following Russia’s warning, Ibrahim called for the alliance to establish clearer consequences for hybrid attacks.

"We now need to start going on the offensive in terms of hybrid warfare and understanding the threat and pushing back and sending a very clear signal to Moscow that such threats will not stand," he said, arguing that a sufficiently serious hybrid attack should be considered capable of triggering NATO’s Article 5 collective-defense clause.

Lithuania, which directly borders Kaliningrad, rejected Moscow’s warning and accused Russia of trying to undermine NATO unity and Western support for Ukraine. 

"Russia’s insinuations and threats have no basis. NATO is a defensive alliance and poses no threat to Russia or any other country," Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry told Fox News Digital. "Russia’s threatening is intended to fracture transatlantic unity and impede our support to Ukraine. Russia will not achieve its goals."

The ministry added: "We strongly condemn any threats to use force and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric. Russia must stop its aggression against Ukraine… Lithuania is strengthening its national defense system and capabilities, including air defense," the ministry said. "We train with our allies and work alongside NATO forces deployed in Lithuania. We are prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory and respond to any threats."

The ministry said Lithuania would also continue providing "comprehensive support to Ukraine and its fight against the aggressor Russia.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Newton told Fox News Digital, "In the weeks leading up to February 2022, many officials and commentators (myself included) weren't sure Putin would actually invade Ukraine, even though there were a number of warnings and indicators he would do so.  And then on that Feb. 24, Putin launched the largest land invasion against Ukraine since World War II."

US ALLIES NEED TO SHOOT DOWN RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT TESTING NATO BOUNDARIES, CZECH PRESIDENT WARNS

"NATO should take Russia's warning seriously that it could resort to employing nuclear weapons against the alliance should Kaliningrad be cut off from Russia. We are in the midst of Russia employing ‘gray zone’ coercive actions against NATO nations, so this pronouncement should not surprise the West," he added.

Filipetti cautioned that regardless of whether Moscow intends to follow through, nuclear threats themselves carry risks.

"NATO is a defensive organization that is in no way threatening Russia's position on Kaliningrad," she said. "That said, any time there is a public threat of nuclear attack it must be taken seriously, especially with someone like Putin."

"Nuclear bombs are a potentially world-altering technology," Filipetti added. "It is not only their use, but the threat of their use, that could cause significant miscalculations and escalations."

Russia has denied Western accusations that it is conducting hybrid warfare against European states and has said it has no intention of attacking NATO countries. Moscow says NATO military activity around Kaliningrad is instead contributing to an increasingly dangerous confrontation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized recent Russian warnings as diplomatic reminders to "hotheads in Europe," Reuters reported Wednesday.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Polish and Russian embassies for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication.

Reuters contributed to this story.

NEW YORK — Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin pushed back on the notion that Ireland has been "overrun" by immigrants as nearly one in four residents is now foreign-born, arguing that the country's dramatic demographic change has been driven largely by legal migration tied to its economic success story.

Martin, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, acknowledged failures in Ireland's asylum system after a record surge in applications, saying it "was too slow" in recent years.

He also addressed moves to tighten citizenship rules and opened the door to publishing crime statistics by nationality amid a heated debate over immigration and crime.

The issue has become a political flashpoint across Europe and the U.S. and comes weeks after President Donald Trump warned about Europe's approach while appearing alongside Martin in Dublin.

"That immigration, what you're doing to yourselves, you're just killing yourselves," Trump said.

TRUMP SAYS HE WOULD 'LOVE' TO SEE IRELAND UNIFIED AS ONE NATION

"Ireland is not overrun in any shape or form," Martin told Fox News Digital. "But we are conscious that it is an issue that has to be addressed robustly, firmly, fairly as well in terms of those seeking asylum."

"All over Europe it's tightening up because of the pressures and migration has created significant political pressures across Europe," he added.

"Obviously, illegal migration is the more potent issue. And our system was too slow in processing those seeking asylum. That has changed. We've accelerated the application and the consideration of applications, and we've also now accelerated the appeals process."

Martin said his government is developing a new migration strategy that includes proposals to increase residency requirements for citizenship from five to eight years and introduce language and economic self-sufficiency requirements.

Immigration has become increasingly intertwined in Ireland's political debate with concerns over housing, crime and rapidly changing demographics in a country that was drastically more homogeneous a generation ago.

The issue burst into international view in November 2023, after Algerian-born Irish citizen Riad Bouchaker stabbed three young children and a childcare worker outside a school in Dublin, triggering riots as anger among some opponents of mass immigration spilled into violence on the streets of the capital. The unrest was followed by sustained opposition to government efforts to house asylum seekers in communities across the country, with some protests also descending into violent clashes.

Immigration returned to the spotlight this summer following the violent killing of Jamey Carney, a 43-year-old American mother from New York who was found dead at her home in County Kerry.

Her Jordanian boyfriend, the suspect in the case, had applied for asylum in Ireland but was rejected and was appealing the decision while remaining in the country. He fled Ireland for Turkey shortly after the killing, later traveling to Jordan and Irish police are now seeking his extradition.

Fox News Digital asked Martin whether the case exposed weaknesses in Ireland's immigration system and whether laws needed to be changed.

"We're looking at all of that in terms of tightening up the laws," Martin said. "We will make sure that, particularly if people's applications are rejected, that there's fast movement in terms of the consequences of that."

MIGRANT WHO FLED IRELAND AFTER AMERICAN MOTHER'S MURDER IS ARRESTED IN JORDAN

Critics of Ireland's immigration policies have argued that migrants are disproportionately responsible for crime, while opponents of that view say such claims unfairly stigmatize the country's growing foreign-born population. But the debate has been difficult to settle because Irish national crime statistics do not routinely publish nationality breakdowns, leaving limited public data to test competing claims.

The lack of data has prompted calls for greater transparency from women's advocates and some Irish lawmakers, including proposals to publish crime statistics broken down by nationality.

"I've no issue with data ... because that can inform, because sometimes you get a kind of distorted picture," Martin said when asked whether crime statistics should include the nationality of alleged suspects. "So as far as I'm concerned, data is important."

But Martin pushed back on the argument that nationality itself drives crime.

"I don't think crime is specific to any nationality," he said. "But there are issues there, and in some cases, yes, there's been horrific crimes committed, but not all by illegal migrants either."

Housing has become another flashpoint as Ireland struggles to build enough homes to keep pace with its growing population.

Martin acknowledged that workers arriving legally in Ireland add to housing demand but said his government’s answer is to increase supply, with about 36,000 homes built last year, up more than 20% from the previous year and the highest annual total since 2011.

The Irish government's reliance on hotels and other properties to house asylum seekers has itself become a flashpoint. The state spent about $1.4 billion on asylum accommodation and related services in 2025, while also buying properties outright, including the sprawling Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for about $175 million.

The allocation of scarce public housing has further fueled the immigration debate.

The pressure is particularly acute in Dublin, where figures released by the city council this month showed 42% of the 15,005 households on its social-housing waiting list were categorized as non-Irish, fueling anger online as Ireland's homeless population hit a record high last month.

Nationally, 28.7% of social housing applicants — nearly 18,000 households — were non-Irish citizens in 2025, according to government figures provided to Fox News Digital. That included nearly 3,200 applicants from outside the EU with refugee status, up 64% from the previous year.

Asked whether Irish citizens should receive preferential treatment for social housing amid pressure on waiting lists, Martin backed the idea, saying that "our position is basically its citizens get priority."

Ireland's demographic transformation has been rapid.

Nearly one in four people living in Ireland was born abroad, up from about one in seven two decades ago. At 23.3%, Ireland now has the fourth-highest percentage of foreign-born residents in the European Union, according to Eurostat.

The transformation accelerated after the EU expanded eastward in 2004, a decision that helped fuel a sharp rise in immigration during Ireland's "Celtic Tiger" economic boom, when years of rapid growth transformed the country from one of Western Europe's poorer economies into one of its wealthiest.

"It's a bit like America really, free movement for the states here," Martin said. "Our economy's expanded hugely."

Martin pointed to financial services and medical devices as industries that rely on skilled foreign workers, including non-EU workers arriving on work permits. More than half a million non-EU citizens were living in Ireland at the start of 2025, accounting for 9.3% of the population, according to Eurostat.

"It has been very dramatic, I agree, in the last three decades, largely because of the economic growth of Ireland," Martin said. "You can't switch off an economy either."

Ireland's economy has undergone a remarkable turnaround since the economic stagnation of the 1980s, through the "Celtic Tiger" boom and a devastating crash in 2008, before rebounding strongly. Over those decades, Ireland became a major European base for U.S. multinationals including Apple, Meta, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

Martin has been at the center of Irish politics through much of that period, serving in successive Fianna Fáil-led governments from 1997 before becoming prime minister, or Taoiseach, in 2020 and returning to the post in 2025.

Ireland's economy continued to expand in 2025, with GDP growing 8%, according to Ireland's Central Statistics Office (CSO).

But prosperity has not eliminated pressure on households: nearly 45% reported difficulty making ends meet, while 64% identified housing and the same share identified inflation and the cost of living as among Ireland's most pressing problems, according to the CSO.

Ireland's more recent migration pressures have included a post-pandemic surge in asylum applicants, including people arriving from Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. Applications jumped from roughly 3,500 a year before COVID to a record 18,561 in 2024, before falling nearly 30% last year and continuing to decline in 2026.

Separately, more than 120,000 Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion arrived under the EU's Temporary Protection system rather than the asylum system. Martin said roughly 80,000 remain in Ireland, with many now working and contributing to the economy.

Martin also emphasized that EU free movement works in both directions, with Irish citizens themselves living and working throughout the bloc.

"Irish people are working and living all over Europe," Martin said. "That's the other side of that story and that is something perhaps that we're not as conscious of, but it is reality."

Martin also placed Ireland's modern demographic transformation within the country's much longer history of emigration, pointing to the exodus that followed the Irish Famine.

"Ireland had 8 million people in 1845 before the Great Famine. That led to the big wave of Irish people migrating to come to America," Martin said.

"We're not at that level yet on the island of Ireland, so we need to look at it through the broad sweep of history in a historical perspective."

A leading American evangelical leader has condemned remarks made by a Palestinian official claiming the Bible as a "Palestinian book."

Palestinian Ambassador to the U.K. Husam Zomlot made the comments earlier this month at the University of Bradford as the revisionist argument takes shape asserting Jesus was a Palestinian.

Zomlot’s claims that the Bible is a "Palestinian book" and that, by extension, all Christians are Palestinian has drawn sharp criticism from those who say the remarks advance a contested historical narrative about the land.

THE WAR ON AMERICA’S JUDEO-CHRISTIAN ROOTS THREATENS EVERYTHING WE SHARE

"The Palestinians aren’t the ‘people of the Book.’ When the ‘Book’ was written, the term Palestinian had not yet been coined," Pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), told Fox News Digital.

"The Palestinian ambassador’s attempt to claim the Jewish mantle of religion and history as his own is the clearest indication that his own narrative lacks both," he said, adding: "Such attacks are contemptible, but their danger is decided by who will listen and who will challenge such bigotry."

Hagee argued that describing Jesus as Palestinian because Bethlehem is today in the Palestinian-controlled West Bank would be anachronistic, comparing it to calling television personality Dr. Phil Cherokee simply because he was born in Oklahoma.

"History also disproves what the ambassador is saying. The Romans intentionally adopted the name ‘Palestine’ as a replacement for ‘Judea’ in an effort to erase the Jews from the land, roughly a century after Christ was crucified," he added.

CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS TAKE ON ANTI-ISRAEL ‘PROPAGANDA’ FROM BIBLICAL HEARTLAND

Hagee, whose group counts over 10 million members, added, "no reasonable person should entertain its existence in the future — given the horrors of October 7th and the ongoing effort by radical Islamists to annihilate the Jewish people."

Zomlot made the comments on Sept. 3 during a conversation with Humza Yousaf, the former First Minister of Scotland, at the University of Bradford. He recalled that, during a private audience with the late Queen Elizabeth II arranged by the British Foreign Office, he told her, "Jesus is our gift to you."

"The Bible is a Palestinian book and it has been used against us. It has been rewritten to be used against the people of the Book," Zomlot continued. "We are the original Christians, all the names that you see here, all the saints that you hear about came from my land and I am so proud about that, spreading Jesus’ message worldwide."

Critics contend the Palestinian Authority has sought to shape the international historical narrative surrounding the land through institutions such as UNESCO and the United Nations. They point to UNESCO’s designation of the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron in the name of the "State of Palestine" in 2016 and its 2023 designation of Tell es-Sultan near Jericho as a World Heritage site in "Palestine."

SITE WHERE JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AND BURIED REVEALS NEW EVIDENCE THAT BACKS BIBLICAL ACCOUNT

They also cite a 2021 U.N. General Assembly resolution that referred to the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, only by its Muslim name, "Haram al-Sharif," as well as P.A. chief Mahmoud Abbas’ 2024 assertion that the site is the "exclusive property of Muslims." Critics also point to efforts to use Arabic names for sites with longstanding Jewish associations, such as Rachel’s Tomb in Nablus (Shechem), which is referred to as the "Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque."

Ze’ev Orenstein, director of international affairs for the City of David Foundation in Jerusalem, told Fox News Digital that the origins of Islam date to the time of the Prophet Muhammad, about 1,300 years ago, while Jesus lived about 2,000 years ago and King David about 3,000 years ago.

Orenstein noted that Jesus himself was Jewish, as were his disciples, and that he knew the Hebrew Bible, observed the Sabbath and Jewish dietary laws and celebrated Jewish festivals including Passover.

SIGN UP FOR ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED NEWSLETTER

"To somehow say that Jesus was a Palestinian or that the Bible comes from 'Palestine,' no. Jesus lived in a place called Judea, and Jews come from Judea," he said.

Orenstein said Zomlot was attempting to appropriate the religious and historical identity of Jews and Christians by attributing the foundations of their faith to a country he said did not exist in that form at the time.

"It’s an act of cultural and historical appropriation; it’s identity theft, an attempt to rewrite the foundations of faith, history, heritage, values and ideals for billions of people around the world. And so, it sets a very dangerous precedent," he said.

Fox News Digital repeatedly reached out to Ambassador Zomlot for comment but did not receive a response.

TAIPEI — Taiwanese officials were watching carefully for signs of policy changes toward the island as President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit last week in Washington D.C.

Xi’s visit was of high interest in Taiwan, a regular target of China’s threats. On Saturday, a panel that included scholars, a retired U.S. military officer, and Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister at the Institute for National Policy Research (INPR) in Taipei assessed what the third Trump–Xi meeting of Trump’s current term means for Taiwan. Most expect no change in U.S. policy toward Taiwan.

"Both of them got what they want and what they need," Kuo Yu-jen, INPR’s vice president and a professor at National Sun Yat-sen University’s Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies, told Fox News Digital. Trump can point to economic results from negotiating with Xi, while Xi can return to Beijing with the prestige of a high-profile U.S. reception, Kuo said. He called claims by some that Trump had "sold out" Taiwan excessive speculation.

XI PRAISES US STATE VISIT 'PERFECTION' AS TRUMP CALLS MEETINGS 'VERY PRODUCTIVE'

As expected, Xi reportedly pressed Trump to say the United States opposes Taiwan independence. Washington’s preferred description is that it does not support Taiwan independence, a distinction that, much to the relief of Taiwan government officials, Trump maintained.

Speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital after the forum, Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu said Beijing wants more than a change in diplomatic language. It wants the world to view Taiwan as a domestic Chinese issue. If that argument succeeds, Wu said, Beijing could claim other countries have no right to respond to its actions against the island.

"The so-called independence of Taiwan is just an issue made specifically by the Chinese government," Wu said. Taiwan already has a president and government elected by its people, territory and its own currency, he said. "We just don’t need to declare any independence. We are a sovereign country."

Wu had expressed concerns prior to Trump’s visit to China in May, when he told Bloomberg that "What we are most afraid of is to put Taiwan on the menu of the talk between Xi Jinping and President Trump."

China’s Foreign Ministry claims Xi urged Trump to maintain the "correct position" to oppose Taiwan independence. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry rushed out an objection on a public holiday in Taiwan, and repeated Taiwan’s own clear position on its sovereignty.

CHINA DEPLOYED OVER 100 VESSELS NEAR TAIWAN IN THE WAKE OF TRUMP-XI SUMMIT, TAIWAN SECURITY OFFICIAL CLAIMS

The White House summary of Xi’s visit announced no change in Taiwan policy and instead emphasized more favorable tariff treatment for US$30 billion in goods in each direction, an AI incident communication channel and U.S. concerns about rare earth and critical-mineral supplies.

The visit nonetheless raised questions in Taiwan about what Xi might have obtained from Trump in private. Analysts cautioned that if there was a deal over Taiwan, it would only become clear in the coming months. Taiwan awaits Trump’s approval for more arms sales, visits to Taiwan by senior U.S. officials and a potential transit stop in the U.S. for Taiwan’s president. China objects to all of these, so how Trump handles them must balance relations with China, maintaining support for Taiwan and Trump’s priorities.

Dong Li-wen, executive director of the government-funded Foundation on Asia-Pacific Peace Studies, described the leaders’ shared approach as delaying difficult decisions while waiting for circumstances to change. For Xi, Dong argued, that is a longer-term strategy. For Trump, it is a temporary tactic. The two sides can keep talking and set aside issues they cannot settle, but their underlying competition remains.

The argument over Taiwan’s status is almost 80 years old. China claims the island as its territory, but the People’s Republic of China has not governed it for even a single day. The Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan after the Chinese Nationalists lost the civil war to Mao Zedong’s Communists in 1949.

The governing Democratic Progressive Party’s 1999 Resolution on Taiwan’s Future described Taiwan as an independent sovereign state called the Republic of China under its existing constitution. All of Taiwan’s democratically elected presidents have said something similar in interviews with international media, including Lee Teng-hui to The Washington Post in 1997, Chen Shui-bian to the BBC in 2010, Ma Ying-jeou to CNN in 2010, and Tsai Ing-wen to the BBC in 2020. Current President William Lai Ching-te said the same thing to Time in 2024, adding an oft-repeated insistence that the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other.

That status quo — which amounts to Taiwan being a de facto independent state — is what Taiwan intends to defend, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Wu. Xi left Washington having restated China’s demands. Analysts at the gathering said whether Xi managed to nudge U.S. policy in any way will soon be tested in decisions over arms sales and other issues, with some predicting weapons packages could be scaled down or "unbundled."

Speaking separately to Fox News Digital, Ross Darrell Feingold, a political analyst and assistant professor at Tamkang University’s Department of Diplomacy and International Relations, noted that with a local election in Taiwan this November, followed by presidential and legislative elections in January 2028, Taiwan’s domestic politics could also be a factor in U.S. decisions. "Although the U.S. is likely to back President Lai’s re-election; agreeing to arms sales, visits by Trump administration officials or Lai’s desired transit stop in the U.S. will need to be balanced against coming across as too blatantly interfering in Taiwan’s election, as well as the inevitable anger from China".

The US military has completed the withdrawal of American forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base in Iraq, ending its Operation Inherent Resolve mission, US Central Command announced Wednesday.

The departure closes the Iraq chapter of the U.S.-led military mission launched against ISIS in 2014, while shifting primary responsibility for the country's security to Iraqi forces. The broader counter-ISIS campaign is not ending, however, with the U.S.-led task force relocating its headquarters to Jordan and operations continuing in Syria.

"Job well done to the tens of thousands of American service members, diplomats, and civilian personnel who answered the call in Iraq," CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said.

US SERVICE MEMBER KILLED IN IRAQ AS TROOPS RECOVER UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS IN JORDAN: CENTCOM

"Because of your grit, sacrifice and professionalism, ISIS no longer poses a systemic threat to Iraq’s national security and Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga and other Iraqi Kurdistan Region security forces, now possess the capacity, leadership, and operational independence to unilaterally manage threats to their homeland."

Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq served as the main operational hub for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve and hosted most of the roughly 1,500 American and Coalition forces supporting counter-ISIS operations, according to CENTCOM.

U.S. and Coalition forces began leaving federal Iraq last October as Washington and Baghdad moved toward a bilateral defense relationship. The final removal of personnel and equipment from Erbil completed that transition on Sept. 30.

Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve remains active and is now headquartered in Jordan, according to CENTCOM. U.S. forces also continue counter-ISIS operations in Syria alongside Coalition partners and the Syrian government.

SYRIA OFF US TERROR BLACKLIST AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS AS TRUMP ADMIN CLEARS INVESTMENT HURDLE

"As we step back and hand full primary responsibility for Iraq’s security to the Government of Iraq and the brave people of Iraq, U.S. and Coalition forces stationed across the region will remain ready to respond to any ISIS threats that arise," Cooper said.

"Maintaining our vigilance and readiness is essential to protecting the U.S. homeland and strengthening regional security," he added. 

The withdrawal ends a U.S. military presence in Iraq that was reestablished in 2014, when Iraqi authorities sought international assistance as ISIS captured large areas of the country. U.S. troops had previously left Iraq in 2011 following the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

The final departure comes as Iraq faces a separate security challenge from powerful Iran-backed militias operating inside the country. Baghdad has sought to bring weapons held by non-state groups under government control, but some of the most influential militias have resisted disarming.

The withdrawal has drawn sharply different reactions inside Iraq. Iran-aligned groups celebrated the U.S. departure, while officials in the country's Kurdish region have raised concerns about the loss of American air-defense capabilities amid drone and missile threats.

CENTCOM said U.S. and Coalition forces elsewhere in the region will remain prepared to respond if ISIS again poses a threat.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A Flydubai flight headed for Israel made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia Wednesday after a reported fight between the pilots triggered a distress alert, raising fears of a possible hijacking and prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets.

The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and everyone aboard was reported safe, according to officials.

A regional official briefed on the incident said an altercation broke out in the cockpit and apparently involved the pilots, though it was not immediately clear what sparked the confrontation. Israeli media, citing security officials, also reported that a dispute between the two pilots was behind the emergency.

The incident prompted an immediate security response in Israel, where authorities initially feared the plane — carrying dozens of Israeli citizens — could have been hijacked. A second official confirmed that Israel scrambled fighter jets as the situation unfolded.

MIDAIR SCARE FORCES PACKED PASSENGER JET INTO EMERGENCY LANDING, TRAVELERS HOSPITALIZED

The aircraft transmitted an emergency alert during the flight, according to publicly available flight-tracking information. Flight FZ1073 had departed Dubai and was headed for Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv before diverting to Tabuk.

Passengers described a tense scene aboard the aircraft as the emergency unfolded. Travelers told Israel's Channel 12 by phone that they heard shouting from passengers near the front of the plane who had apparently heard the cockpit altercation. They also said the aircraft dipped steeply before landing in Saudi Arabia.

AMERICANS WARNED AGAINST TRAVEL PLANS AS TERRORISM THREATENS POPULAR DESTINATION

After landing, passengers remained aboard the plane as a heavy Saudi security presence surrounded the aircraft, according to their accounts to the Israeli outlet.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office later said the situation was under control and that Israeli authorities were working to bring the passengers home. The scare came as Netanyahu has warned in recent days about unspecified heightened security threats facing Israel.

Flydubai later confirmed that FZ1073 had experienced an incident while traveling to Ben Gurion Airport and landed safely in Tabuk.

"Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities," the carrier said. "Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available."

The exact circumstances surrounding the reported cockpit confrontation remained unclear Wednesday.

While disputes between pilots serious enough to affect a flight are rare, similar incidents have occurred. Two Air France pilots were suspended in 2022 after fighting in the cockpit during a flight from Geneva to Paris. That aircraft did not divert and landed as scheduled.

The initial hijacking fears carried particular weight in Israel, where aviation security has long been shaped by a history of attacks on Israeli travelers and aircraft. Palestinian militants carried out a series of hijackings and attacks involving Israelis during the 1960s and 1970s. Israel has not experienced an aircraft hijacking in decades and maintains stringent security procedures for Israel-bound flights.

Flydubai is a lower-cost sister carrier of Emirates. Flights between Israel and the United Arab Emirates began after the two countries normalized relations in 2020, opening the UAE as a major destination for Israeli travelers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Iranian security forces have stepped up their presence in Tehran and other cities, with motorcycle patrols, checkpoints and forces positioned across major urban areas as authorities brace for possible unrest, multiple sources inside Iran told Fox News Digital.

The security buildup comes as university students have returned to the streets in Tehran, protesting compulsory hijab rules, rising education costs and political repression, videos published on Iran International show.

Sources inside Iran confirmed to Fox News Digital that motorcycle units have been operating across Tehran and other cities during events surrounding Iran’s annual "Sacred Defense Week," while members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Basij and law enforcement have been positioned at major squares and other locations.

IRAN INSTALLS NEW WAR CHIEFS AS TEHRAN SIGNALS ‘PROLONGED CONFRONTATION,’ EXPERT WARNS

The sources also said security personnel have stopped pedestrians, searched some individuals and examined mobile phones, including material authorities consider "anti-regime."

The accounts follow a report from the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s (NCRI's) Committee on Security and Counterterrorism alleging that Iranian authorities ordered a "100%" state of readiness for the Army, IRGC, Basij and law enforcement and canceled leave through Sept. 27. The NCRI also claimed 51,000 personnel had been deployed across Greater Tehran, including 30,000 IRGC and Basij members and 21,000 law enforcement personnel. The reported preparations are taking place as signs of public unrest have begun resurfacing on university campuses. Fox News Digital has not independently confirmed those claims.

One source in Tehran told Fox News Digital that the heightened security presence extends beyond what is visible on the streets. 

INSIDE TEHRAN: IRANIANS DESCRIBE IRGC'S BRUTAL RULE, POVERTY — ASK TRUMP TO 'STAY THE COURSE'

"Motorcyclists taking photos of shops, and prisoners being threatened and forced to tell their families not to physically participate in any protests that might arise," the source said.

The source said Basij members who previously received military training have been placed on alert and are being housed or assembled at educational facilities and large properties on the outskirts of Tehran.

The measures were not limited to the capital. "This situation exists in all cities, but the nature of the presence and the way things are organized differ," the source told Fox News Digital, citing information received from Borujen, Isfahan and other cities.

IRAN ACCELERATES EXECUTION CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTI-REGIME ACTIVISTS AMID INTERNET CENSORSHIP

"In those places, plainclothes agents are more prevalent and try to remain out of public view; however, in Tehran, they appear openly on the streets in military uniforms and gear specifically to instill fear and terror," the source said, adding that leave had also been canceled in smaller cities and claimed shops, telephone communications and everyday activities were under increased surveillance.

Iranian journalist Mehdi Ghadimi, who lives outside Iran after years of opposition activity, separately told Fox News Digital that he had received similar accounts.

"I’ve received reports of new checkpoints being set up in Tehran, and there have also been reports of military forces being put on alert, as well as civilians who had previously been trained by the regime for urban repression being called up," Ghadimi added that people are being detained on espionage charges simply because they communicate with people outside of Iran.

IRAN INMATES SEW LIPS SHUT IN MASS HUNGER STRIKE AT NOTORIOUS US-SANCTIONED JAIL: REPORT

Ghadimi also said he had received reports that individuals with serious criminal records had been released from prison in exchange for reporting to local Basij bases and participating in the suppression of demonstrations.

Students at Allameh Tabataba’i University in Tehran held a protest Monday against compulsory hijab, rising tuition and university living conditions, according to videos reported by Iran International on Sept. 28 and 29. Students were recorded chanting against the morality police and political repression.

Iran International reported that the protest began over tuition, dormitory and food costs before expanding into broader political chants. The outlet, citing the student publication Amirkabir, reported that Basij members attempted to disrupt the gathering and threatened students.

IRAN'S REGIME CAME FOR TEENAGE TWINS. THEIR FATE OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF TEHRAN'S WIDENING DEATH CAMPAIGN

The protests also come amid renewed pressure over compulsory hijab rules on university campuses. On Sept. 8, Iran International reported that a senior official in the office representing Iran’s supreme leader at universities said a new compulsory-hijab directive for universities had been drafted and was expected to be issued by the ministries overseeing higher education.

Separately, the IRGC escalated its rhetoric toward Washington on Tuesday, with spokesman Hossein Mohebbi calling on Americans to pressure President Donald Trump’s administration. "This lying administration must be changed," Mohebbi said at a Tehran press conference, according to Reuters video distributed Sept. 29.

His remarks came as U.S. and Iranian officials continued indirect contacts through mediators in an effort to end the seven-month conflict, Reuters reported.

The combination of visible security preparations and renewed demonstrations is fueling speculation among Iranians about whether the country could face another broader wave of unrest.

"The reality is that nobody knows what’s going to happen," Ghadimi told Fox News Digital. "Everyone I talk to says that this situation cannot continue and that, somehow, it has to come to an end."

When a gunman approached a police cruiser outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, during Yom Kippur, approximately two dozen people were praying inside.

The armed officer sitting outside was not part of a permanent security system available to every synagogue in Canada. Police had dispatched him after receiving a report about a suspicious vehicle. That decision may have prevented a massacre. 

"The only thing that stood in the way of every congregant of that shul being murdered was the presence of an armed police officer," Simon Wolle, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, told Fox News Digital.

ISRAELI MEDICS TRAIN US SYNAGOGUES HOW TO RESPOND TO ATTACKS, AS HIGH HOLIDAYS APPROACH

Police said last week's shooting was a deliberate, hate-motivated attack targeting the Jewish community. According to authorities, 29-year-old Sean Ward approached Belleville Police Constable Jeff Smith and allegedly shouted, "You are going to die for the Jews," before firing a shotgun at him.

Smith was struck multiple times while still inside his vehicle. Despite his injuries, he emerged from the cruiser and returned fire. A second officer arrived within minutes and joined the confrontation. Ward later died at a hospital.

Smith remains hospitalized after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body and serious head trauma. Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said Smith faces multiple surgeries and a "lengthy and challenging" recovery, but said the officer is "making progress every day."

Smith’s wife, Ashley, has also spoken publicly about her husband’s recovery, describing the shooting as "the scariest and darkest day of our lives."

"My words aren’t strong or steady yet, but I knew I needed to find them," she wrote. "I needed to use my voice for my dear Jeff, until he is able to use his."

MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, HATE CRIMES AFTER ALLEGEDLY DISRUPTING SHABBAT SERVICES AT NYC SYNAGOGUE

Ashley Smith also addressed the Jewish community directly, thanking those who have supported her husband and their family. "Please know that your love, your prayers and your support have reached us," she wrote. "We are deeply grateful. We love you, we see you, we pray for you."

She said her husband still faces "a very long, difficult road ahead," but added that he is surrounded by what she called "an army of love."

The worshipers inside the synagogue were not physically injured.

Investigators later disclosed that the gunman possessed what Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd described as the "means, motive and mechanisms to cause a mass casualty and the destruction of the Jewish synagogue." Police also reported discovering combustible materials inside the suspect’s vehicle.

"This individual had the means, the intention, the deliberate plans and the capacity to conduct a murderous massacre," Wolle said.

For Wolle, the attack exposed more than a violent act of antisemitism. It revealed a legal and security system that he believes leaves Canadian Jewish institutions dangerously vulnerable.

B’nai Brith Canada is calling for changes to federal and provincial laws that would allow synagogues, Jewish schools and other vulnerable institutions to hire qualified armed security guards.

"There is currently no legislation in place that allows for Jewish institutions to hire the kind of armed protection that may be necessary," Wolle said.

Canada’s firearms regulations are controlled at the federal level, while private security is also governed through separate provincial rules. Wolle said those frameworks must be aligned so institutions confronting credible threats have a lawful way to employ trained, licensed armed guards.

FLORIDA MAN INDICTED FOR ALLEGEDLY PLOTTING MASS SHOOTING TARGETING JEWISH EMPLOYEES AT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION

At present, he said, Jewish institutions can ask police departments to increase patrols, although departments cannot always guarantee that an officer will be stationed outside. Communities can also try to hire paid-duty police officers, but availability remains limited.

"So the only option right now for the Jewish community to protect itself from the unprecedented amount of violent attacks taking place all across this country is to plead with local police services to come by if they can," Wolle said. "They will not guarantee that they will do so in most circumstances."

That leaves Jewish communities spending their own money to reinforce buildings, install surveillance systems and hire officers when available.

"Right now, the Jewish community is using its own money primarily to build walls, put up stronger fences, add cameras and then pay for the privilege of having an armed police officer," Wolle said. "Our lives are being threatened across the country, and the government hasn’t taken the steps to offer the necessary protection."

B’nai Brith has made two requests. It wants laws amended to permit qualified armed private security at vulnerable Jewish institutions, and it wants the government to fund an increased police presence at those locations.

Wolle said the burden of protecting Jewish Canadians from targeted violence should not rest solely on the people being threatened.

"The government needs to meet its most basic obligation and responsibility, which is to protect its citizens," he said.

The numbers provide a stark context for his concerns. Statistics Canada recorded 788 police-reported hate crimes targeting Jewish people in 2025, representing more than 70% of all reported religiously motivated hate crimes that year.

Wolle said Jewish Canadians constitute approximately 1% to 2% of the country’s population, yet remain overwhelmingly affected by religiously motivated hate crimes. Preliminary data from B’nai Brith’s 2026 annual audit indicate that violent antisemitic incidents have already more than tripled compared with the total recorded throughout 2025.

"There is a national crisis of Jew hatred in Canada," Wolle said.

B’nai Brith has been warning for months that antisemitic violence is accelerating. Wolle said the organization submitted recommendations and concrete plans to different levels of government before the Belleville attack.

"We’ve been calling for many things from all levels of government," he said. "We provided concrete action plans to each."

The shooting has intensified the organization’s demand that lawmakers treat the security of Jewish institutions as an emergency rather than another subject for future discussion.

"The most urgent thing that is needed is a mechanism for there to be armed protection of Jewish institutions that are under attack right now in Canada," Wolle said.

He emphasized that B’nai Brith is not calling for firearms to be placed indiscriminately inside synagogues and schools. Its proposal concerns trained, vetted and qualified security professionals operating under a clearly defined legal framework.

"If we don’t have enough armed officers, then we need legislative frameworks changed to allow for alternative armed guards to protect Jewish institutions," Wolle said.

Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the Belleville attack and called on anyone with information to contact law enforcement.

RECORD ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS IN CANADA FUEL CRITICISM OF CARNEY GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

SIGN UP FOR ANTISEMITISM EXPOSED NEWSLETTER

"On the holiest night of the Jewish calendar, a shooting took place outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville," Carney said. "Jewish people must be able to worship safely. To live free, open, proud Jewish lives."

Wolle welcomes expressions of support and said Canadian Jews now need their government to move beyond statements.

"The government gives us words and no action," he added.

Belleville offered a disturbing picture of what could have happened without an armed officer outside. The congregants did not know that a man police say was driven by hatred had allegedly arrived with weapons and the capacity to cause mass casualties.

One report of a suspicious vehicle led to one officer being placed outside. That officer, Wolle stressed, became the barrier between the gunman and the people praying inside.

"In the wake of these harrowing events, Canada’s Jewish community cannot wait any longer for the government to act," he said.

The people inside the synagogue, Sons of Jacob, survived. Wolle’s warning is that Canada cannot depend on chance, a suspicious-vehicle report or the availability of a single officer the next time a Jewish institution is targeted.

"This is not a Jewish community problem," he said. "This is a Canadian problem."