In June 1941, the next flashpoint between Britain and Vichy France came when a revolt in Iraq was put down by British forces. German and Italian Air Force aircraft, staging through the French possession of Syria, intervened in the fighting in small numbers. That highlighted Syria as a threat to British interests in the Middle East. Consequently, on 8 June, British and Commonwealth forces invaded Syria and Lebanon. This was known as the Syria-Lebanon Campaign or "Operation Exporter". The Syrian capital, Damascus, was captured on 17 June and the five-week campaign ended with the fall of Beirut and the Armistice of Saint Jean d'Acre on 14 July 1941. 5,668 Vichy French soldiers defected to the Free French and the armistice agreement led to the repatriation of 37,563 military and civilian personnel back to France. This somewhat disappointed De'Gaulle, who had expected more to defect to his side.