The Department of War has declassified and released a video recording of an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) captured by a military platform operating in the Middle East in 2023. The footage, designated PR68 under the Pentagon’s UAP release framework, was made public as part of ongoing transparency efforts mandated by the PURSUE policy. The video, titled “dow-uap-pr068-iir-1-666-s0151-23-video-footage-unidentified-aerial-phenomenon-ua,” was recorded by an infrared sensor on an unspecified platform.
The recording shows a small, fast-moving object maneuvering at high altitude. According to the metadata, the sensor was operating in infrared mode, and the object appeared to exhibit no visible means of propulsion. The report does not specify the exact location or the type of platform, but sources indicate it was operating in a region with known U.S. military activity. The object’s movement, as captured by the sensor, does not conform to known aircraft or drone performance characteristics.
The release is part of a broader effort by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), established under the Office of the Secretary of Defense, to review and declassify historical UAP encounters. The PURSUE policy framework, which governs the release of such materials, requires that all non-sensitive UAP data be made available to the public after a review process. This video is one of several that AARO has declassified in recent months.
The footage includes telemetry data and sensor readings, but the report does not provide an analysis of the object’s identity. The Department of War has stated that the object remains unidentified after initial review. The video was recorded in 2023, during a period when U.S. forces reported an increase in UAP sightings in the region. The report does not link this particular sighting to any known foreign adversary technology.
Experts note that the release of such footage allows for independent analysis by researchers and the public. The AARO office has encouraged qualified researchers to submit their own analyses. The office can also request additional data from the originating unit, interview operators, and conduct further technical analysis if warranted. The Department of War has emphasized that the release does not imply any threat assessment.
Moving forward, AARO will continue to review additional UAP reports and declassify materials that meet the PURSUE criteria. The office has stated that it will prioritize cases with multiple sensor modalities or corroborating witness accounts. This latest release is part of an ongoing effort to increase transparency while protecting sensitive operational details.
