The Pentagon has released a new batch of previously classified documents on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), including 209 sightings near a US nuclear base. The files, made public on Friday, contain reports of strange lights and orbs but offer no conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial activity.
Among the documents is a report from 2025-2026 of glowing orbs over an unidentified north-eastern US city, which prompted FBI investigators to interview witnesses. One witness claimed to have seen flashing red lights reminiscent of the TV show 'Knight Rider'. Another document details a 2008 incident at Harare International Airport in Zimbabwe, where a disc-like object with rotating lights was reported.
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, stated that the release demonstrates the Trump administration's commitment to transparency. However, the Pentagon reiterated that all cases remain unresolved, and it cannot determine the nature of the observed phenomena.
Critics have questioned the value of the releases, with some suggesting they are a distraction from other issues. The former director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), Sean Kirkpatrick, has previously noted that many sightings have mundane explanations, such as reflections or parachutes.
