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According to Department of War records released under the PURSUE archive, a U.S. military pilot reported observing a “possible balloon” at approximately 2,100 feet over Syria in February 2023. The document, titled “DOW-UAP-D19, Mission Report, Syria, February 21, 2023,” was declassified and released on May 8, 2026, and details an incident that occurred during a routine combat air patrol mission.
The report is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized form used by the U.S. military to record operational circumstances. The Department of War notes that such reports are often used to document Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). The document’s official summary states that “all descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event” and should not be taken as a conclusive indication of any object’s intrinsic features or performance.
Mission Details and Sighting
The mission, designated as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, involved a two-ship formation of F-15E aircraft that took off from Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (OJMS) in Jordan. According to the declassified narrative, the flight conducted defensive counter-air operations in the vicinity of ESSA. The pilot reported observing “3X POSS UAP” (three possible unidentified anomalous phenomena) near Shaddadi at an altitude of FL240 (approximately 24,000 feet). Later, at 0135Z, the pilot observed “IX POSS BALLOON” (one possible balloon) near Shaddadi at FL210 (approximately 21,000 feet). The report notes that “WSV PRODUCED” (weapons system video was produced) and “NFTR” (no further transmission required) for both sightings.
The document also details the flight’s refueling activities, including receiving 37,000 pounds of fuel combined from a tanker on the “MOM TRACK” and later 33,500 pounds on the “GANDER TRACK.” The mission concluded with the flight landing at OJMS at 0435Z. The report is classified as SECRET, with a declassification date of January 20, 2048. It was declassified by Major General Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, on October 8, 2025.
Agency and Context
The document was released by the U.S. Department of War under the PURSUE archive, a program that makes historical UAP-related records publicly available. The report was originally filed by the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS), part of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW). The point of contact listed is a 1st Lieutenant, though personal details, including the full name, are redacted under FOIA exemptions (b)(3), (b)(6), and 130b.
Per a Wikipedia summary of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), this office is “an office within the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense that investigates unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and other phenomena in the air, sea, and/or space and/or on land.” The Wikipedia entry notes that AARO’s first director was physicist Sean Kirkpatrick, and its current director is Jon T. Kosloski. The Department of War’s official description confirms that U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report UAP to AARO, placing this document within the formal reporting pipeline for such phenomena.
What Remains Unanswered
The report offers limited definitive conclusions. The pilot’s characterization of the object as a “possible balloon” is explicitly noted as subjective. The document does not provide any analysis of the “WSV” (weapons system video) that was produced, nor does it confirm whether the object was later identified. The three earlier “POSS UAP” sightings at higher altitude also remain unexplained in the narrative.
Readers should watch for future PURSUE archive releases, which may include additional documentation, such as the video footage referenced in the report or subsequent analytical assessments from AARO. The Department of War’s ongoing declassification efforts under PURSUE may provide further context on this and similar incidents, potentially clarifying whether such sightings are attributable to known objects, environmental factors, or something else entirely.
