UAP Encounter Reported During Reconnaissance Mission in Iraq

Opening summary

S. Air Force in Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve included a notable encounter with an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP). 4a.

The operation commenced at 0542Z, with the aircraft taking off from a designated location identified as OKAS. Throughout the mission, the aircraft collected signals intelligence (SIGINT) and supported various operational tasks, demonstrating its multifaceted role in the reconnaissance effort. The encounter with the UAP occurred at 2043Z on May 20, 2022, when the aircraft observed the phenomenon flying in a north to northeast direction.

Despite the extended observation, the crew was unable to obtain a positive identification of the UAP, leaving its characteristics and nature largely unknown. This incident underscores the complexities and challenges faced by military personnel when encountering unidentified aerial objects during operational missions. The mission report, classified as SECRET, details the operational context and the specific timing of the UAP encounter, but it does not…