If there is one concrete evidence that should shed some light on the downing of a Ukrainian commercial plane, it is that missiles were fired -- just near -- where the ill-fated aircraft took off.
A new video has surfaced, showing that two missiles were launched and hit Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which exploded mid-air and crashed just minutes after it took off from Tehran's airport, last Wednesday.
The video was confirmed and verified as genuine by a New York Times probe team. The footage, which was uploaded on social media by an Iranian user early Tuesday, appears to have been taken from a security camera on building roof approximately a hundred yards from where the passenger jet was struck.
The video shows one missile hitting the aircraft, a ball of fire appearing just seconds later, preceded a few seconds later by a second missile striking its target.
The plane did not immediately crash after the two missiles struck, although it wasn't confirmed if it attempted to return back to the airport. As the video showed, the aircraft appeared to be on fire moments after the second missile struck it.
A video that emerged last week showed a missile hitting the Boeing 737-800 bound for Kyiv. All of its 176 passengers were killed.
According to The Times report, the new video could help explain why the aircraft's transponder failed prior to the crash, indicating the first missile damaged it.
The attack took place hours after Iran launched a missile barrage at two military bases in Iraq that housed US servicemen.
Iranian officials initially denied shooting down the plane, before going public and admitting the missiles were fired, pointing to human error as the military was on high alert during those tense moments.
Iranian officials added the aircraft flew too close to a military base, but a Wednesday morning review of transponder data from previous flights to Kyiv and other flights showed that Flight 752 did not deviate from its normal course.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said that the victims on the downed Ukrainian plane would still be alive today if not for the growing tensions between the Tehran and Washington.
In an interview with Global News TV, Trudeau said that if there were no recent escalation of tensions in the region, "those Canadians would be home with their families right now."
The US did not inform Canada in advance that it was planning to launch a drone attack on Soleimani, which Trudeau responded by saying that he would have appreciated an advance notice.
