US declassifies UFO files showing unexplained sightings but no evidence of extraterrestrial life

Report by Wissam Nasrallah, English adaptation by Mariella Succar

The U.S. has declassified a new batch of files related to UFOs and UAPs, sparking renewed public interest in unidentified aerial phenomena.

The release, issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, includes videos, images, and archival material presented as part of a broader effort toward transparency regarding unexplained sightings. However, officials emphasized that the material does not confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life, but rather documents incidents that remain unresolved or not fully identified.

Some of the released videos show objects in motion or unclear aerial activity, but experts note that such footage could potentially be explained by drones, birds, balloons, or optical effects.

The files also revisit earlier space missions, including NASA’s Apollo 11 mission in 1969, during which astronaut Buzz Aldrin has previously recounted seeing an unidentified light or object during the flight. NASA has not classified such accounts as evidence of extraterrestrial encounters.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the release, under direction from President Donald Trump, aims to increase transparency regarding the government’s understanding of unexplained aerial phenomena.

Trump has previously commented on classified material related to unidentified objects, suggesting that past administrations, including former President Barack Obama’s, handled such information inconsistently.

Officials stressed that the released material does not constitute proof of alien life, but reflects ongoing efforts to document and analyze unexplained sightings.

The Pentagon said the objective is to clarify what the government knows about such phenomena, while acknowledging that many cases remain unresolved.