DOW-UAP-PR40, Unresolved UAP Report, Middle East, 2020

Department of WarVideoVideo ReportUNCLASSIFIEDNo redactionsPURSUE Release 1

5/10

solid newsworthy item

UAP Insight significance score

Location: Arabian Gulf
Duration: approximately 1 minute and 3 seconds
Witnesses: Sensor only
Released: May 8, 2026

UAP Characteristics

? Unknown shape

Evidence Types

IR Video

Government Programs Referenced

AARO

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 one minute and three seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2020. The original reporter digitally altered the imagery by pausing the video playback and adding a white line encircling an area of interest at timestamp 00:10, annotated with the phrase “U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE.” AARO did not edit the originally reported material, and this media is presented as received. Video Description: 00:00-00:09: An area of contrast brightens within the sensor field-of-view, becoming increasingly distinct against the background. 00:10-00:14: Playback pauses to display a white line encircling an area of interest, annotated with the phrase “U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE.” 00:15-01:03: Playback resumes, with the sensor panning to track the area of contrast against the background, generally maintaining the area of contrast’s position within the top third of the display area. During this period, the sensor cycles through several contrast and zoom settings. This video 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

→An unidentified small thermal signature was detected by an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in the Arabian Gulf in 2020.
→The original reporter digitally altered the footage by pausing playback and adding a white encirclement annotation labeled 'U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE' at timestamp 00:10.
→AARO received and preserved the video without further editing, presenting it as originally submitted by CENTCOM.
→The sensor tracked the thermal area of contrast for approximately one minute, cycling through multiple contrast and zoom settings during tracking.
→The report was submitted by U.S. Central Command to AARO and remains officially unresolved.

UAP Insight Analysis— AI generated, not official

A U.S. Central Command infrared sensor video from 2020, recorded in the Arabian Gulf region, depicts an unidentified small thermal signature tracked by a military platform's sensor. The footage was submitted to AARO and is notable because the original reporter manually annotated the video with a white circle and the label 'U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE' at the 10-second mark. AARO presented the video unaltered as originally received.

Analyst Notes

The original reporter digitally altered the video footage prior to submission, which introduces a chain-of-custody concern. The thermal signature is described only as a 'small area of contrast' with no shape, size, altitude, or velocity data provided. No corroborating sensor data (radar, visual, additional platforms) is referenced. The object could plausibly be a bird, insect, balloon, or other small thermal emitter at close range. No analytical conclusion is offered by AARO.

Extracted Entities

Agencies & Organizations

United States Central Command (CENTCOM)All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)Department of War

Locations

Arabian Gulf

Aircraft & Objects

Unidentified small thermal signatureU.S. military platform with infrared sensor

Dates

2020

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AI analysis by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 20, 2026