Mission Report DOW-UAP-D32: Observation of an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon over Syria, October 2024

Source file: dow-uap-d32-mission-report,-syria-october-2024.pdf Originating agency: Department of Defense / DoD Modern UAP (USCENTCOM / AFSOC) Date range: October 20, 2024 (takeoff 0823Z) to October 21, 2024 (landing 0457Z) Page count: 10 (all read) High-significance pages: 1 (main narrative and UAP description), 7 (detailed UAP data), 8 (UAP physical characteristics), 9 (GENTEXT/UAP — verbal 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 a "misshapen and uneven ball of white light," describing multiple "glares or light" emanating from an "unknown origin." The reporter described the UAP as a "light/glare halo effect" at the top of the Full-Motion Video (FMV) feed. 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 SECRET U.S. Air Force ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) mission report flown under Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in the skies of Syria. Over a mission lasting more than 20 hours, a single UAP incident was documented: lights and/or glare from an unidentified source appearing from various angles on the aircraft's full-motion video (FMV) camera feed. The aircrew gave the event a Benign assessment, with no impact on the mission.

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Research Article

Introduction

On October 20, 2024, a U.S. Air Force aircraft assigned to the 12 SOS (Special Operations Squadron), under AFSOC and USCENTCOM command, flew an extended ISR mission over Syria. The mission, which lasted 20 hours and 24 minutes, comprised three information-collection orbits over different targets, using FMV (full-motion video) and SIGINT (signals intelligence) sensors with the SANTA FE sensor system. At the conclusion of the mission, a SECRET MISREP was filed carrying the REL TO USA, FVEY caveat, and it was approved for release to AARO on October 24, 2025 by Major General Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff.

Operational context: Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Syria

Operation INHERENT RESOLVE is the U.S. military campaign against violent extremist organizations (designated VEO, Violent Extremist Organization) in Syria and Iraq. This mission was classified under the global campaign plan GCP-VEO, whose objective is target development against extremist organizations. The aircraft took off from base OJMS, flew three ISR orbits over different points within the 37S area (a UTM coordinate grid corresponding to Syria), and returned to base.

The report reveals a picture of a classic ISR operation: collecting information on vehicle movements, motorcycles, and individuals in areas categorized as generators of extremist activity. The unusual mission length, more than 20 hours, points to the use of a long-endurance ISR aircraft that only a few platforms can fly — such as the MC-12W Liberty, the U-28A, or a similar AFSOC-type aircraft. All aircraft particulars, the callsign, and the tail number are classified under FOIA exemptions 1.4a and 1.4g.

Description of the UAP incident

The central element of this document from a UAP-research standpoint is the description of the incident recorded between 1559Z and 1644Z on October 20, 2024. While the aircraft was flying its second ISR orbit over the loiter point, at an altitude of 20,088 feet and a speed of 144 knots, the aircrew documented an unexplained light phenomenon:

Description of the phenomenon per the report:

• Lights and/or glare from an unknown source appeared at different angles and directions on the FMV camera feed
• At 1559Z, 1602Z, and 1644Z, a light/glare was observed crossing directly across the camera's field of view
• At 1609Z and 1620Z, a "halo" effect of light/glare was observed at the top of the FMV feed
• The overall appearance was described as a "MISHAPEN AND UNEVEN BALL OF WHITE LIGHT"

Aircrew assessment: The aircrew ruled out a lasing event and assessed the phenomenon as Benign, with no impact on the mission. No interception or active response was performed. No RF signal was recorded. No external control of the phenomenon was detected.

Official UAP data from the report:

• UAP Event Type: UAP Incident
• Initial Contact DTG: 201559:00ZOCT24
• UAP Event Serial Number: 201559ZOCT2024
• UAP Physical State: Plasma
• UAP Propulsion Means: UNKNOWN
• UAP Signatures: LIGHT
• UAP Under Intelligent Control: NO
• UAP Advanced Capabilities and/or Materials: NO
• UAP Effects on Persons: NO
• UAP Maneuverability Observations: "LIGHT/GLARE FLASHED OF UNK ORIGIN FLASHED ACCROSS FMV CAMERA FEED"
• Observer Assessment of UAP: Benign

Analysis: plasma and unexplained lights

The official classification of the UAP's physical state as "Plasma" is significant. The U.S. military often uses the "plasma" label as a tentative explanation for unidentified light phenomena, but it does not constitute a full explanation of the phenomenon. Plasma in a natural environment has known sources (lightning, light-emitting gas, St. Elmo's fire), but none of them matches the description of an "irregular ball of white light" observed from an aircraft at over 20,000 feet in clear weather (CLEAR WX).

It should be noted that the report explicitly states that this was not a lasing event. Targeted lasers aimed against aircraft are a known and reported phenomenon. This explicit denial narrows the simple technological explanations. The fact that the phenomenon appeared from "different angles and locations" across the FMV feed indicates that its source was not a single fixed point on the ground.

Additional ISR incidents during the mission

Alongside the UAP incident, the report documents three complete ISR orbits:

First ISR orbit (1102Z–1200Z): The aircrew observed 3 individuals (ADMs) and one motorcycle (MOTO) near the loiter point. POL (petroleum, oil, lubricants — refueling/logistics monitoring) activity was conducted. At 1158Z a re-tasking direction was received.

Second ISR orbit (1230Z–2252Z): One of the individuals observed in the first phase was followed. He was seen wearing traditional clothing and riding a motorcycle. The UAP incident occurred during the period 1559Z–1644Z. Afterward the follow resumed and no further activity was observed.

Third ISR orbit (2318Z–0124Z): The aircrew reached the loiter point at 2318Z and observed a motorcycle parked on the south side of a structure. Prolonged surveillance was conducted with no further activity until withdrawal to base at 0124Z.

Security and classification aspects

The document includes extensive redactions under FOIA exemptions b(1)1.4a (security information for weapon systems and aircraft), b(1)1.4g (intelligence information on sources and methods), and b(6) (personal privacy). The redactions conceal:

• The aircraft callsign and identity
• The tail number and the mission ATO number
• Specific coordinates of ISR targets
• The identity of the supported unit (DATA MASKED)
• Particulars of the individuals observed

The scheduled declassification date is 20491020 — meaning the document was to remain secret until 2049. It was released earlier by a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) decision of USCENTCOM.

Significance

This document is one of the few modern UAP reports addressing the Syrian combat theater. It demonstrates that even within intensive and sensitive ISR activity, the aircrew paused, documented, and reported a UAP incident in compliance with AARO's formal protocols. The description of an "irregular ball of white light" at a realistic altitude and in clear weather, combined with the denial of a lasing event and the absence of external control, leaves open questions regarding the source of the phenomenon.

Key People

Role	Detail
MG Richard A. Harrison	USCENTCOM Chief of Staff; approved release of the document on October 24, 2025
POC (point of contact)	Rank A1C, unit 27 SOW (Special Operations Wing), operations center 609 CAOC — name redacted
QC (quality control)	Rank 1LT, unit 56 SOIS, wing 27 SOW — name redacted
APPROVER	Rank SSgt, operations center 609 CAOC — name redacted
UAP reporter	Rank E-4 — name redacted

Locations

• OJMS — takeoff and landing base (ICAO identifier); most likely a U.S. military base in the Middle East region
• 37S (UTM grid) — the operational area in Syria; specific points redacted
• 609 CAOC — Combined Air Operations Center

Incidents

Incident	Date	Time (Z)	Location	Pages
Takeoff for ISR mission	October 20, 2024	0823Z	OJMS	1, 4
First ISR: observation of 3 ADM + moto	October 20, 2024	1102Z–1200Z	37S FV 85	1, 5
Second ISR: tracking an ADM	October 20, 2024	1230Z–2252Z	37S FU 36	1, 6
UAP incident 1 — unidentified light/glare	October 20, 2024	1559Z–1644Z	37S FU 36	7, 8, 9
Third ISR: moto parked near a structure	October 20–21, 2024	2318Z–0124Z	37S FU 85	1, 9
Return to base and landing	October 21, 2024	0124Z–0457Z	OJMS	1, 5

Notable Quotes

"AT 1559Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED ARRIEAL PHENOMENON (SEE UAP 1)." (Page 1 — main narrative description of the UAP incident)

"UAP MANEUVERABILITY OBSERVATIONS: LIGHT/GLARE FLASHED OF UNK ORIGIN FLASHED ACCROSS FMV CAMERA FEED." (Page 7 — official UAP data)

"UAP ANOMALOUS CHARACTERISTICS/ BEHAVIORS: LIGHT/GLARE FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN FLASHED ACCROSS FMV CAMERA FEED. AIRCREW ASSESSED THIS NOT TO BE A LASING EVENT." (Page 8 — aircrew assessment)

"UAP Description: MISHAPEN AND UNEVEN BALL OF WHITE LIGHT." (Page 9 — physical description of the UAP)

"FROM 1559Z-1644Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED MULTIPLE GLARES OR LIGHT FROM UNKNOWN ORIGIN AT DIFFERENT ANGLES AND DIRECTIONS. AT 1559Z, 1602Z AND AT 1644Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED 1X LIGHT/GLARE CROSSED DIRECTLY ON THE FMV CAMERA. AT 1609Z AND 1620Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED A LIGHT/GLARE HALO EFFECT AT THE TOP OF [REDACTED] FMV FEED. AIRCREW CONSIDERED THIS NO MISSION IMPACT OR CHANGE AND UAP WAS BENIGN." (Page 9 — GENTEXT/UAP, the most detailed description of the event)

"UAP Physical State: Plasma | UAP Propulsion Means: UNKNOWN | UAP Under Intelligent Control: NO" (Page 8 — UAP physical-classification data)