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According to the Department of War document, titled “DOW-UAP-D12, Mission Report, Iraq, May 2022”, a U.S. military operator reported observing one Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP) flying north to northeast in Iraq on May 20, 2022. The observer followed the UAP for as long as possible but was unable to positively identify it. This incident is documented in a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form used by the U.S. Military to record the circumstances surrounding its operations, particularly when reporting UAP to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
The Department of War released this document under the PURSUE archive on May 8, 2026, declassifying it from its original SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY classification. The document provides a detailed account of the mission, including the timeline of events, aircraft information, and operational details. However, the official description of the UAP sighting itself remains limited, with the report stating that all descriptive and estimative language contained in the report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event.
Context and Agency Background
The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), as noted in the Wikipedia entry on the topic, is an office within the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense that investigates unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and other phenomena. Per Wikipedia’s entry on AARO, its first director was physicist Sean Kirkpatrick, and its current director is Jon T. Kosloski. The AARO’s role in collecting and analyzing UAP reports like the one described in “DOW-UAP-D12, Mission Report, Iraq, May 2022” is crucial for understanding and resolving these anomalies.
The “DOW-UAP-D12, Mission Report, Iraq, May 2022” document itself is a comprehensive record of the mission, including technical details about the aircraft, its operations, and the communication issues that delayed its takeoff. The report is classified as SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY, indicating its sensitive nature and the countries authorized to access the information. The declassification of this document under the PURSUE archive provides insight into the U.S. military’s operations and its approach to reporting and investigating UAP sightings.
Wikipedia’s entry on AARO notes that the office investigates phenomena in the air, sea, and/or space and/or on land, referred to as “unidentified aerial phenomena” or “unidentified anomalous phenomena” (UAP). This context is important for understanding the broader scope of UAP reports and the efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense to address these phenomena through the AARO.
Unanswered Questions and Future Releases
Despite the release of “DOW-UAP-D12, Mission Report, Iraq, May 2022”, many details about the UAP sighting remain unclear. The report’s emphasis on the subjective interpretation of the observer and the lack of conclusive identification of the UAP leave several questions unanswered. Readers should watch for future PURSUE releases for more information on UAP sightings and the investigations conducted by the AARO. The declassification of documents like “DOW-UAP-D12, Mission Report, Iraq, May 2022” is a step towards transparency, but the complexity and sensitivity of UAP reports mean that a full understanding of these phenomena will likely require the release of additional information.
The Department of War’s release of this document under the PURSUE archive is part of a larger effort to provide more transparency and information about UAP sightings. As more documents are declassified and released, the public may gain a deeper understanding of these phenomena and the efforts by the U.S. military and the AARO to investigate and resolve them. For now, the “DOW-UAP-D12, Mission Report, Iraq, May 2022” document provides a unique glimpse into the reporting and investigation process, highlighting the complexities and challenges involved in understanding and addressing UAP sightings.
