DOW-UAP-PR130, Unresolved UAP Report, Iraq, 2022
Iraq UAP infrared still image report (2022)
solid newsworthy item
UAP Insight significance score
- Location
- Iraq
- Incident date
- 2022
- Witnesses
- Sensor only
- Released
- September 18, 2026
UAP Characteristics
Evidence Types
Government Programs Referenced
Official Conclusion
Unresolved
Official Description
The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of a still image derived from an infrared system aboard a U.S. military system in 2022. An accompanying mission report, DOW-UAP-D106, described the UAP as “flying sporadically… at various speeds between 80-180 miles per hour.” Image Description: This image features two areas of contrast. One appears near the center of the sensor display, bounded by a reticle. Another appears in the lower third of the frame. The area of contrast in the lower third of the frame appears elongated and is followed by a visible trail. These features suggest motion across the focal plane from the top right to the bottom left of the sensor field-of-view. The apparent trail is consistent with known image-compression and processing effects and does not necessarily represent a physical feature. This image 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.
Key Findings
- →The UAP was described in an accompanying mission report (DOW-UAP-D106) as 'flying sporadically at various speeds between 80–180 miles per hour.'
- →The infrared still image shows two areas of contrast: one near center within a targeting reticle, and one elongated feature in the lower third of the frame with a visible trail.
- →The apparent trail in the image is noted as consistent with known image-compression and processing artifacts and does not necessarily represent a physical feature.
- →The case was submitted by USCENTCOM to AARO and is officially designated as unresolved.
- →Multiple data fields in the image are redacted under exemptions 1,4a and 1,4g, limiting available contextual metadata.
This document is a single declassified infrared still image submitted by U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) to AARO as part of an unresolved UAP report from Iraq in 2022. The image shows two areas of contrast on an infrared sensor display, one near center bounded by a targeting reticle and one in the lower third of the frame with an apparent elongated trail. An accompanying mission report described the UAP as flying sporadically at speeds between 80–180 mph.
Analyst Notes
This is a single infrared still image with significant metadata redactions; no radar, visual corroboration, or additional sensor confirmation is visible in this document. The document's own description notes the trail effect is consistent with image-compression artifacts, raising the possibility of a mundane technical explanation. No shape is clearly discernible. The image description explicitly disclaims any analytical or investigative judgment.
Extracted Entities
People
Agencies & Organizations
Locations
Aircraft & Objects
Dates
Full transcript · 1 page
Machine transcription by Claude Haiku 5.5 — it may contain errors; check the original. Redacted text stays redacted.
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Declassified by Mr. Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 30 June 2026 FOUO/ Privacy Act applies 1.4a, 1.4g 1.4a, 1.4g 1.4a, 1.4g 1.4a, 1.4g 06/30/26 029 USCENTCOM MDR 25-0001 to 26-0005 Approved for Release to AARO - FOUO / PA applies
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