A missile reportedly struck a mysterious orb off the coast of Yemen last year, captured in a striking video shown Tuesday at a hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).
The footage shows an MQ-9 Reaper drone tracking the object before a second drone fires a Hellfire missile, sending fragments tumbling around it.
The video was presented at a session of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, which investigates the release of government materials in the public interest. Republican Congressman Eric Burlison of Missouri said the footage, recorded on October 30, 2024, came from a whistleblower and is now undergoing independent review.
Why It Matters
Tuesday's hearing, titled "Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection," reflects growing concern over the national security implications of UAPs, also known as UFOs.
These unexplained objects have long fueled speculation about extraterrestrial life or secret military programs. Lawmakers argue that decades of secrecy have left the public in the dark on issues that could impact both science and security.
What to Know
According to Burlison, the video shows a high-speed object—presumably the missile—hitting the orb, which then deforms, tumbles, and sheds smaller fragments, one barely visible.
"It kept going, and it looked like the debris was taken with it," Burlison said. "I'm not going to speculate what it is, but the question is why are we being blocked from this information?"
The MQ-9 drone tracking the object captured the incident in real time, while a second drone, not visible in the footage, reportedly fired the missile. Burlison also shared the video publicly by posting it on X. An independent review of the video is ongoing.
