Somalia rejects Israeli presence; Oman Air ex‑copilot attempts mid‑air attack
Analysed · First reported · Updated
Somalia's president said the country will not allow any Israeli presence, while an Omani ex‑copilot who had been barred from flying tried to seize control of an aircraft in free fall.
Somalia rejects Israeli presence
Somalia will not accept Israeli presence in the country under any circumstances, the president said. He added that Somalia will resist any attempts to be pulled into the Middle East’s crises. The president described Israel as a destabilising force that does not abide by international law and criticised Tel Aviv’s recognition of Somaliland in December. He noted that the United States remains his country’s strongest partner in the fight against terrorism.
Mid‑air attack attempt
A copilot attacked the pilot with an emergency axe and tried to take control of the aircraft while it was in free fall. The copilot, a national of Oman, had previously been prohibited from flying by Oman Air over concerns about extremist views. The flight was carrying 182 people. The incident occurred a week before the anniversary of the Hamas‑led attack on 7 October 2023 that triggered the Gaza war.
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