The U.S. Department of Defense began releasing hundreds of previously classified UFO files on Friday [1, 2].
The release follows an order from President Donald Trump to increase transparency and satisfy public interest in long-standing speculation regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) [1, 2].
In the first batch of disclosures, the Pentagon released 28 videos [1]. CBS News Pentagon reporter Eleanor Watson reviewed the materials and identified six videos as the most notable [1, 3]. These selected clips originate from the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), and the United Arab Emirates [1, 2].
Among the highlighted footage, two videos from the UAE were recorded in October 2023 [1] and June 2024 [1]. Additional footage from INDOPACOM includes files dated 2023 [1] and 2024 [1].
Government officials said the move aims to provide the public with direct access to the evidence. Pete Hegseth said, "The documents have long fueled justified speculation — and it's time the American people see it for themselves" [4].
The disclosure process is expected to continue as the military processes the remaining hundreds of files [2]. The Pentagon has not yet provided a full timeline for the remaining releases, though the initial batch of 28 videos represents the first step in the broader transparency effort [1].
“The documents have long fueled justified speculation — and it's time the American people see it for themselves.”
This release represents a shift in the U.S. government's approach to UAP transparency, moving from categorical denial to the public dissemination of sensor data. By releasing footage from both INDOPACOM and the UAE, the Department of Defense is acknowledging that these sightings are a global phenomenon involving multiple combatant commands and international partners.
