An image collected by a U.S. spy plane reportedly shows a metallic orb UFO that flew over Iraq in 2016.
According to the U.S. version of The Sun publication, the spy-plane photo was featured in a classified video briefing shown to American government agencies.
It potentially marks the first time an Unidentified Flying Object has been filmed in an active conflict zone.
The Sun first learned of the image through Jeremy Corbell and George Knapp, two UFO investigators who have since posted the somewhat-grainy photo on their "Weaponized" podcast page.
The unusual image was reportedly collected in April 2016, and has since been designated as an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena — the term most commonly used by U.S. government officials, when discussing UFOs.
The image footage on the classified video briefing runs roughly four seconds and shows the UAP "moving with purpose" in a lateral direction, from south to north, according to The Sun.
From Corbell's perspective, the image represents an "entirely different scenario" to previous sightings of UFOs or UAPs by U.S. Navy fighter pilots.
"For the first time, we are releasing a military filmed image of a UAP over an active conflict zone," said Corbell, while adding the UAP poses "significant risk to our servicemen and women, and this case highlights this — and is unfortunately not unique."
Corbell continued: "Origin, capability, operator and intent has not been determined in relation to this intelligently controlled UFO over Mosul, Iraq. At a minimum, UAP pose a fundamental intelligence and combat identification problem that must be addressed."
According to The Sun, Corbell insisted the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office dedicates sufficient resources to "this enduring mystery on behalf of the American and global public."
And on his podcast, Corbell declared, "No matter where UFOs are from — it is now openly admitted by our Department of Defense that they are appearing with an increased frequency worldwide."
The Sun reports that, in 2020, the U.S. government released a series of videos covering the supposed sightings of three UFO or UAP encounters.
For one video, two U.S. Navy officers — Commander Dave Fravor and Lt. Commander Alex Dietrich — spotted a UFO off the coast of San Diego, California.
The UFO/UAP aircraft in question started at 80,000 feet, stealthily plunged to 20,000 feet, and then disappeared from radar, according to reports.
In his description of the UFO, Commander Fravor reportedly said: "It had no wings. So you think, 'OK, it's a helicopter,' but there's no rotor wash in the water, there's no rotors and when helicopters move from side-to-side, they're kind of slow then pick up speed going the other way."
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