Incident Overview
A special flight en route from Beirut to Damascus was struck by three Syrian surface-to-air missiles while descending toward Damascus Airport. The aircraft crashed near the town of Al-Dimass. All nine individuals on board were killed.
Flight and Cargo
The flight was chartered to transport United Nations Organization (UNO) personnel and various logistical equipment. It was a non-scheduled operation between the two capitals.
Context of the Attack
At the time of the incident, Syrian military forces were engaged in combat with Israeli fighters along the Syria–Lebanon border. The aircraft was mistakenly identified as hostile and engaged by Syrian air defense systems.
Casualties
All nine occupants, comprising UNO personnel and crew, lost their lives in the crash. No other details about the individuals have been disclosed.
Official Findings
The official investigation determined the cause of the accident: the aircraft was shot down by Syrian surface-to-air missiles.