US Sends Troops to Middle East Amid Iran Tensions and Flydubai Hijacking Probe

The UAE's senior advisor to the president described the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight as a "terrorist attack." The Israeli military and Shin Bet announced that a Hamas commander eliminated this week in Gaza was responsible for holding Israeli hostages during the war, including Maya Shim and Uriel Baruch. An Emirati source told i24NEWS that leaflets from organizations calling for a "free Palestine" were found among the belongings of the Omani pilot on the flight. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is investigating the incident and that whoever sent the pilot, whom he described as having been "radicalized by Islam," will pay a heavy price. Initial assessments suggest the hijacker acted as a "lone wolf" without external direction, though investigations are ongoing. U.S. President Donald Trump warned of a "very strong strike" against Iran if its involvement in the hijacking attempt is proven. In parallel, the U.S. has deployed approximately 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East, including the USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Makin Island amphibious ready group, increasing its naval presence in the region to over 20,000 personnel. Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Minister Isac Dar announced that Riyadh will host an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political Defense Committee under the "Mecca Defense Pact" between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan to discuss Houthi attacks. Syria and Lebanon strongly condemned the Houthi drone attack on a power distribution station in Medina, Saudi Arabia, calling it a violation of Saudi sovereignty and international law.