Al-Qaeda Calls for Attacks on Flights Carrying Americans and Israelis

The international Islamist terrorist organization Al-Qaeda has urged its supporters worldwide to carry out aerial attacks targeting Israelis and Americans, according to the New York Post. This call follows an attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The message was published on Friday, October 2, in "Al-Bayan," a weekly magazine affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

The New York Post shared a collage on social media platform X, juxtaposing the Al-Qaeda call with a photo of the Flydubai second pilot, identified as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami, who allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The "Al-Bayan" publication, titled "Between September 11 and September 30," praises terrorist attacks in the U.S. and the attempt on the Flydubai flight, while declaring the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq a victory for jihad.

The article in "Al-Bayan" refers to the Flydubai incident as an achievement, despite the plane landing safely in Saudi Arabia and passengers later reaching Tel Aviv on another flight. It states, "The war is not over yet. Planes carrying Zionists, Americans, and representatives of other infidel peoples hostile to Islam continue to fly. They can be attacked, as happened on September 11 and September 30." The publication suggests that attackers do not even need to share their religious beliefs, stating, "Enemies from among Americans and Zionists are many times more numerous today than before. Even a person who believes neither in Allah nor in the Day of Judgment can attack them, and his actions will ultimately serve Islam and Muslims."

Al-Qaeda also promises future attacks that will surpass the scale of 9/11, claiming, "A few years ago, Al-Qaeda promised operations that would surpass September 11 tenfold. For Allah, this is not difficult." The authors predict the end of the United States, calling it the "evil empire," and vow to "cleanse" the Al-Aqsa Mosque of Jews. They also praise former terrorist leaders like Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, encouraging supporters to disseminate their messages via social media.

The "Al-Bayan" text does not claim responsibility for the Flydubai incident but praises it and calls for new attacks. On September 30, the Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the second pilot reportedly used an emergency axe and attempted to take control. The crew and passengers subdued the attacker. The UAE Attorney General stated that an investigation confirmed the planning and attempt to commit a terrorist act, with ongoing efforts to determine the circumstances and potential involvement of others.