View original document (0.2 MB) PDF viewer unavailable in this browser. Download the PDF to view. According to the Department of War document, titled ‘DOW-UAP-D55, Mission Report, Syria, November 2016’, a U.S. military pilot flying a P-8A aircraft reported observing an unidentified object via the aircraft’s EO/IR sensor on November 18, 2016, near Latakia, Syria. The object was characterized as appearing to be in “sea skim mode,” traveling at approximately 500 knots (575 mph) on a southeasterly heading.
The P-8A lost visual contact with the object after two minutes. The Department of War record, released under the PURSUE archive on May 8, 2026, provides a mission briefing summarizing the observation of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) by the U.S. military platform.
The document states that the P-8A was monitoring KCTG activity in the Eastern Mediterranean when it observed the unidentified low-flying object 55 nm northwest of Latakia, traveling at approximately 500KTS on a southeasterly heading outbound from KCTG. The timeline of the event, as described in the document, indicates that the P-8A observed a possible missile launch at 1612Z, and the possible missile appeared to be in sea skim mode traveling at approximately 500KTS on a southeasterly heading outbound from KCTG.
The P-8A lost visual of the object at 1312Z, approximately 40 NM northwest of Latakia. The document also notes that the weather was clear, with no range limitations.
Agency Context and Document Release
The Department of War document, ‘DOW-UAP-D55, Mission Report, Syria, November 2016’, is part of a collection of declassified U.S. government records concerning UAPs, released by the administration of Donald Trump beginning on May 8, 2026. As noted by Wikipedia’s entry on “United States UFO files”, this release is part of an ongoing effort to provide transparency on UAP sightings, with repeated, ongoing, expanding releases of UFO materials expected.
Per Wikipedia’s summary of the United States UFO files, the release of these documents marks a significant step towards increased transparency and public awareness of UAP sightings. However, the documents themselves, such as ‘DOW-UAP-D55, Mission Report, Syria, November 2016’, offer limited detail beyond the specific incidents they describe, leaving many questions unanswered.
Unanswered Questions and Future Releases
While the Department of War document provides a detailed account of the UAP sighting on November 18, 2016, many questions remain unanswered. The document’s official summary offers limited detail beyond the specific incident, and the context in which it occurred. Readers should watch for future PURSUE releases, which may provide additional information on UAP sightings and the efforts of the U.S. military to understand and respond to these phenomena.
As the release of UAP-related documents continues, it is likely that more information will become available on the nature and extent of UAP sightings, as well as the steps being taken by the U.S. government to investigate and respond to these incidents. For now, the ‘DOW-UAP-D55, Mission Report, Syria, November 2016’ document provides a fascinating glimpse into one such incident, and highlights the need for continued transparency and public awareness of UAP sightings.
