Experts warn Iran may expand covert attacks after two suspected terror plots

A dual-national suspect has been detained in the United Kingdom after authorities uncovered a suspected terror plot targeting RAF Fairford, a base supporting U.S. operations. At the same time, a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain of a FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel, prompting claims of a possible Iranian connection. No public evidence directly ties the Iranian government to either event, and Tehran denies involvement.

Analysts explain that Iran traditionally relies on proxies and criminal networks to maintain plausible deniability, a pattern reflected in the Fairford case. However, the airline attack would mark a departure from Iran’s usual methods, raising questions about a potential shift in its covert warfare approach. Experts caution that while the incidents could signal a new willingness to impose costs beyond conventional battlefields, they may also provoke stronger retaliation from the United States and its allies.