Mission Report: Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Over Syria, July 2022

Source file: dow-uap-d16-mission-report-syria-july-2022.pdf Originating agency: Department of Defense / DoD Modern UAP – USCENTCOM Date range: 30 July 2022 – 31 July 2022 (30-31 JUL 22) Page count: 7 (all reviewed) High-significance pages: 1 (narrative and UAP description), 5–6 (GENTEXT/ISR – full mission data), 7 (UAP data and event description)

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Official Blurb (from war.gov)

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or "general text" section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report. A U.S. military operator reported observing one UAP move from north to south, with a total duration of under one minute. All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter's subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

Summary

A classified Mission Report (SECRET/NOFORN) describing an armed reconnaissance sortie by the U.S. Air Force over Syria in July 2022, under Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. During the mission's night hours, at 02:39 UTC on July 31, the aircrew documented an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) in the vicinity of 37SFU27. The document was released to the public on October 8, 2025 by MG Richard A. Harrison, Chief of Staff of USCENTCOM, under MDR request 25-0094.

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Research Article

Introduction

On July 30, 2022, a single U.S. Air Force aircraft belonging to the 89 ATKS (Attack Squadron) and the 432 AEW (Air Expeditionary Wing) departed on an armed reconnaissance sortie over Syria. The mission launched from Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (OJMS), Jordan, and lasted nearly 21 hours. The report, bearing the designation MISREP undefined-7816710, was logged as a reconnaissance and intelligence sortie (AREC/ARMED RECCE) under Operation INHERENT RESOLVE — the U.S.-led multinational operation aimed at degrading ISIS forces in the region.

The document reveals two principal platforms operating together: one conducting IMINT (imagery-based satellite/aerial intelligence) and one conducting SIGINT (signals intelligence). Both platforms operated in coordination with Task Force CHOSIN, which provided the sensor tasking authority (STA – Sensor Tasking Authority).

Mission course and ISR data

The aircraft took off on July 30, 2022 at 18:22 UTC, reached the collection area at 20:28 UTC, and left the area on July 31 at 14:09 UTC. Total time on station: 18 hours and 44 minutes. The mission concluded with a landing back at OJMS at 15:19 UTC, after a total of 20 hours and 57 minutes of flight.

ISR data recorded:

• 20.9 mission hours
• 17.2 IMINT hours
• 18.7 SIGINT hours
• 1 IMINT tasking prosecuted
• 1 SIGINT tasking prosecuted
• 2 total taskings prosecuted

The aircrew scanned multiple areas, including grid points such as 37SFU38, 37SFU29, 37SFU27, 37SFU34, 37SFU33, 37SFU31, and 37SFU40 — all locations in Syria.

Description of the observed ground activity

The GENTEXT/ISR data (pages 5–6) provides a detailed description of the activity observed on the Syrian ground throughout the night. At 20:29 UTC an ADM (Able-Bodied Male) was observed sitting on the roof of a cargo truck parked behind trees. Later in the night a convoy of vehicles was observed, including a white jeep, black and red trucks (BONGO), and multiple ADMs.

Details of the observed convoy:

• At 05:21 UTC, 1 white PUT, 1 black PUT, and 2 white BONGOs were observed with roughly 30 ADMs
• At 06:33 UTC, the convoy comprised a white jeep, a black PUT, and 2 white BONGOs
• At 07:53 UTC, a white PUT was observed with an unidentified object (UI Object), possibly an artillery system (Poss Artillery System) in its cargo bed
• At 08:32 UTC, another truck was observed with possibly mounted AAA (Poss Mounted AAA)

The area was designated a "Poss Shooting Range" after an ADM was observed carrying a rifle on his shoulder.

Between 07:15 and 08:18 UTC the aircraft conducted a contacts of interest (COI) scan and surveyed a compound where a technical and a quad-cab PUT were observed. During the scans, interactions were observed between various men and the PUT containing the unidentified object.

The central UAP incident

The most significant event in the report is documented on page 7 under the heading UAP, occurring on July 31, 2022 at 02:39 UTC. Event data:

• Time of first contact: 310239:00ZJUL22
• Friendly aircraft location: 37SFU41 (partially classified)
• Friendly aircraft altitude: 19,359 feet
• Friendly aircraft speed: 116 knots
• UAP location: 37SFU27 (partially classified), at KP 9
• UAP signatures: No

Event description (GENTEXT/UAP, page 7): "AT 310239Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED AN UAP EVENT IVO 37SFU27[REDACTED] IN KP 9. THE UAP OCCURED IN LESS THAN A MINUTE, WITH THE UAP MOVING FROM N TO S."

In other words: at 02:39 UTC, the crew documented a UAP event in proximity to 37SFU27, in Key Point number 9. The UAP was observed for less than a minute, and its motion was from north to south. It is important to note that no UAP signatures (RF, thermal, radar) were recorded, and that absence underscores the unexplained nature of the event.

Significance

The report is important for several reasons.

First, it illustrates that military ISR organizations report UAP events even while conducting routine operational missions. The mission itself was not intended for UAP research but for armed reconnaissance, yet the event was documented and reported through the appropriate official channels.

Second, the location of the event in Syria — a country in which numerous forces of different states operate, including Russia, Iran, and others — adds a layer of geopolitical complexity. It cannot be ruled out that this was an asset of a hostile party, but neither can that be confirmed from the document.

Third, the time of the event (02:39 UTC, hours before dawn) and the brief duration of observation (less than a minute) make unambiguous identification of the object difficult. The fact that the UAP moved in a uniform direction (north to south) and performed no unusual maneuver suggests an object with some motion, but without exceptional characteristics documented in detail.

Fourth, the removal of the NOFORN caveat and its release to unclassified status indicates that USCENTCOM considered and found that the data does not endanger active operations. The release of the document in 2025, three years after the event, was carried out under the MDR (Mandatory Declassification Review) process initiated by AARO.

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Key People

Person	Role
MG Richard A. Harrison	Chief of Staff of USCENTCOM; approved the document release on October 8, 2025
POC (point of contact)	Amn (rank) – name classified, unit 89 ATKS, 432 AEW wing, 603 AOC operations center
QC (quality control)	2d Lt (rank) – name classified, unit 89 ATKS, 432 AEW wing, 609 CAOC operations center
Approver	SrA (rank) – name classified, unit 609th AOC

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Locations

Location	Description
OJMS	Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan (launch and recovery base)
37SFU27	UAP location in Syria (KP 9)
37SFU38, 37SFU29, 37SFU34, 37SFU33, 37SFU31, 37SFU40	Additional scan areas in Syria
Dayr Az Zar Parking AFLD (37SFV07)	Aircraft parking field scanned at 11:22–11:37 UTC

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Incidents

Incident	Date/Time (UTC)	Location	Pages
Aircraft takeoff from Muwaffaq Salti	30 July 2022, 18:22	OJMS, Jordan	4
Arrival in mission area and SIGINT begins	30 July 2022, 19:25	Syria	1
IMINT begins, entry into OP SPECTRE DAGGER area	30 July 2022, 20:28	37SFU38	5
Observation of ADM sitting on truck roof	30 July 2022, 20:29	37SFU38	5
Scan of convoy of 30 ADMs	31 July 2022, 05:21	37SFU28	5-6
PUT observed with unidentified object (possible artillery)	31 July 2022, 07:53	37SFU28	6
UAP event – UAP moving from north to south	31 July 2022, 02:39	37SFU27, KP 9	7
Possible mounted AAA observed on truck	31 July 2022, 08:32	37SFU26	6
End of tracking, released from CHOSIN	31 July 2022, 12:43	COI 2 area	6
Landing back at OJMS	31 July 2022, 15:19	OJMS, Jordan	5

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Notable Quotes

UAP event description (page 7, GENTEXT/UAP):

"AT 310239Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED AN UAP EVENT IVO 37SFU27[REDACTED] IN KP 9. THE UAP OCCURED IN LESS THAN A MINUTE, WITH THE UAP MOVING FROM N TO S."

Primary narrative (page 1):

"AT 310239ZJUL22, [REDACTED] OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON IVO 37SFU27[REDACTED] (SEE UAP 1)."

Total mission data (page 1):

"20.9 MISSION HOURS, 17.2 IMINT HOURS, 1 IMINT TASKINGS PROSECUTED, 18.7 SIGINT HOURS, 1 SIGINT TASKINGS PROSECUTED, 2 TOTAL TASKINGS PROSECUTED"

Weather (page 7):

"WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR"