UAP Reports, Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sea (2023–2024) – PURSUE Files

These reports come from U.S. aircraft operating near Greece and over the eastern Mediterranean in late 2023 and early 2024, a period of heavy U.S. activity in the region after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Released in PURSUE Release 01, they include two Aegean Sea cases in which crews saw objects “flying just above the surface of the ocean,” and a January 2024 report of a diamond-shaped object with a “non-maneuvering probe at the bottom” that was visible only in short-wave infrared (SWIR).^[1]

The records

DOW-UAP-D033, Mission Report, Greece, October 2023

Open DOW-UAP-D033 (PDF) on war.gov →

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or “general text” section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report.
A U.S. military operator reported observing a UAP “flying just above the surface of the ocean.” The report describes the UAP as taking “multiple 90-degree turns at an estimated 80 mph.”
All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-PR034, Unresolved UAP Report, Greece, October 2023

DOW-UAP-PR034, Unresolved UAP Report, Greece, October 2023 — official upload on DVIDS (public domain).

The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of two minutes and 57 seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2023. An accompanying mission report, DoW-UAP-D33, described the UAP as flying near the surface of the ocean and making multiple “90-degree turns” at approximately 80 miles per hour.

Video Description:
00:04: An area of contrast enters the sensor field-of-view from the bottom left quarter of the screen.
00:07-00:19: The area of contrast moves back and forth horizontally across the field-of-view as the sensor pans to track it.
00:20-01:00: The area of contrast remains generally centered within the sensor field-of-view.
01:00-02:01: The sensor designates the area of contrast with a blue reticle, synchronizing its motion with the area of contrast’s relative position.
02:02-02:21: The sensor engages a contrast filter to better differentiate the area of contrast from the background.
02:22: The area of contrast becomes indistinguishable against the background, and the reticle drops its lock.
02:27-02:57: After losing lock, the sensor rapidly cycles zoom levels and contrast thresholds.

This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.

— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D035, Mission Report, Greece, October 2023

Open DOW-UAP-D035 (PDF) on war.gov →

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or “general text” section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report.
A U.S. military operator reported observing a UAP “flying just above the surface of the ocean.” The report describes the UAP as “[flying] straight above the ocean towards lands.”
All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-PR035, Unresolved UAP Report, Greece, October 2023

DOW-UAP-PR035, Unresolved UAP Report, Greece, October 2023 — official upload on DVIDS (public domain).

The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of 24 seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2023. An accompanying mission report, DoW-UAP-D35, described the UAP as small and circular, flying near the surface of the ocean toward land.

Video Description:
00:02: The sensor narrows its field-of-view to zoom in on an area of contrast near the center of the screen.
00:03-00:19: The sensor tracks the area of contrast as it moves against the ocean background.
00:20: As the background scene transitions from being predominantly water to land, the area of contrast becomes indistinguishable.

This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.

— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D025, Mission Report, Greece, January 2024

Open DOW-UAP-D025 (PDF) on war.gov →

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or “general text” section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report.
A U.S. military operator reported observing one UAP, estimating its speed as “approximately 434 knots (499 mph)”. The observer described the UAP as diamond-shaped, with a non-maneuvering probe at the bottom. The observer noted that the UAP was only visible when viewed via an onboard Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) sensor. The observer reported that the event occurred over a duration of approximately two minutes.
All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-PR028, Unresolved UAP Report, Greece, January 2024

DOW-UAP-PR028, Unresolved UAP Report, Greece, January 2024 — official upload on DVIDS (public domain).

The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of one minute and five seconds of video footage captured via multiple sensor modalities aboard a U.S. military platform in 2024. An accompanying mission report, DoW-UAP-D7, described the UAP as “diamond-shaped” and moving at approximately 434 knots. The observer also reported that the UAP was only detectable via short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensor.

Video Description: The screen is split into two viewing areas for the first ten seconds of the video, with the right side displaying electro-optical footage and the left side displaying SWIR footage.
00:04: An area of contrast becomes distinguishable against the background in the center of the right frame.
00:10: The display shifts to a full-screen view of the SWIR feed to better focus on the area of contrast.
00:55: The area of contrast remains generally within the center of the sensor field-of-view. The area of contrast visually resembles an inverted teardrop with a vertically linear trailing mass suspended below.
00:56: The operator switches the sensor modality to visible spectrum, losing the subject against the background.
00:57-01:05: The operator switches the sensor modality to SWIR (Black-Hot) but does not reacquire the area of contrast.

This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.

— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D054, Mission Report, Mediterranean Sea, NA

Open DOW-UAP-D054 (PDF) on war.gov →

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or “general text” section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report.
A U.S. military operator reported observing one UAP. The report describes the UAP as a “triangular and metallic UAP.” The reporter estimated the UAP’s altitude as 24,989 feet and speed as 168 knots (193mph).
All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

— Official PURSUE description

DOW-UAP-D005, Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020

Open DOW-UAP-D005 (PDF) on war.gov →

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or “general text” section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report.
A U.S. military operator reported observing two UAP traveling at an estimated speed of 278 knots (320 mph. The observer reported that the UAP “increased speed and changed direction towards the south.”
All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

— Official PURSUE description

Analysis

Patterns. An object taking “multiple 90-degree turns at an estimated 80 mph” just above the sea (D033) is within the abilities of a small quadcopter-style drone, and the 80 mph speed is itself unremarkable. The “diamond with a probe” (D025, PR028) is a shape AARO and independent analysts have repeatedly linked to balloons carrying a hanging payload or tether; being visible in SWIR but not other bands fits a thin, cool object reflecting sunlight. A “triangular and metallic” object at about 25,000 ft moving at 193 mph (D054) is consistent with a balloon or high-flying drone. A related 2024 video from the Gulf of Oman (PR029, on another page) shows a similar shape with a vertical bar beneath it, which the observer thought might be a reflection.

Reading these reports. Speeds, sizes and altitudes in military UAP reports are usually operator estimates. A single infrared camera cannot measure distance, so an object’s speed is inferred from how fast it crosses the screen plus an assumed range; if the object is closer and smaller than assumed, it is also much slower (parallax). “Cold” objects in infrared are cooler than the background, which fits unpowered things like balloons. AARO’s public reports say most cases it has resolved turned out to be balloons, birds, drones, or sensor and display effects.^[2]

New or previously released? New. We found no earlier public release of these reports or videos.

Released files

See also

• AARO
• U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
• UAP reports: Gulf of Oman, UAE and Horn of Africa
• PURSUE Release 01 (May 8, 2026) overview
• PURSUE

References

1. ^ U.S. Department of War (2026). PURSUE Release 01 (May 8, 2026): DOW-UAP-D033, DOW-UAP-PR034, DOW-UAP-D035, DOW-UAP-PR035, DOW-UAP-D025, DOW-UAP-PR028, DOW-UAP-D054, DOW-UAP-D005, with official descriptions. war.gov/ufo.
2. ^ All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, Consolidated Annual Reports on UAP (2023–2025): most resolved cases were balloons, birds, unmanned aircraft or sensor artifacts.