A missile reportedly struck a mysterious orb off the coast of Yemen last year, captured in a striking video shown Tuesday at a hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).
The footage shows an MQ-9 Reaper drone tracking the object before a second drone fires a Hellfire missile, sending fragments tumbling around it.
The video was presented at a session of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, which investigates the release of government materials in the public interest. Republican Congressman Eric Burlison of Missouri said the footage, recorded on October 30, 2024, came from a whistleblower and is now undergoing independent review.
Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Tuesday’s hearing, titled “Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection,” reflects growing concern over the national security implications of UAPs, also known as UFOs.
These unexplained objects have long fueled speculation about extraterrestrial life or secret military programs. Lawmakers argue that decades of secrecy have left the public in the dark on issues that could impact both science and security.
What to Know
According to Burlison, the video shows a high-speed object—presumably the missile—hitting the orb, which then deforms, tumbles, and sheds smaller fragments, one barely visible.
“It kept going, and it looked like the debris was taken with it,” Burlison said. “I’m not going to speculate what it is, but the question is why are we being blocked from this information?”
The MQ-9 drone tracking the object captured the incident in real time, while a second drone, not visible in the footage, reportedly fired the missile. Burlison also shared the video publicly by posting it on X. An independent review of the video is ongoing.
Below is the video I revealed in our @GOPoversight UAP hearing today, made available to the public for the first time.October 30th, 2024: MQ-9 Reaper allegedly tracking orb off coast of Yemen. Greenlight given to engage, missile appears to be ineffective against the target.… pic.twitter.com/jxJwl0e00S
— Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) September 9, 2025
Witness Testimony
The hearing also featured testimony from U.S. Air Force veteran Dylan Borland, who recounted a 2012 sighting of a 100-foot silent triangular craft at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Borland said the object emitted no sound nor wind disturbance and appeared to be made of a fluid-like material.
Highlighting the credibility of such accounts, Democratic Representative for Florida Jared Moskowitz, criticized the government for misleading the public on UAPs, saying the veterans’ “impeccable records” make it difficult to dismiss these sightings.
Pentagon Reports
The Pentagon’s November 2024 report on UAPs found that many sightings were misidentified objects, including balloons, birds, or drones. Of 510 reported incidents, only 21 merited further analysis. The Defense Department’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) emphasized that no evidence of extraterrestrial technology or advanced foreign capabilities has been found.
Missouri GOP Representative Eric Burlison: “I’m not going to speculate what it is, but the question is why are we being blocked from this information?”
Representative Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat: “I don’t really know what is true, I don’t know, on this subject, but I do know when we’re being lied to and we are definitely being lied to, there’s just no doubt about that.”
Dylan Borland, U.S. Air Force veteran: “The craft interfered with my telephone, did not have any sound, and the material it was made of appeared fluid or dynamic.”
What Happens Next
Lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency and further investigation, stressing that UAPs remain a potential national security concern. Rising military tensions in Yemen after Houthi rebel attacks on commercial ships make understanding these phenomena more urgent, raising questions about UAPs in conflict zones and potential threats to U.S. forces.
The ongoing review of the Yemen video and other whistleblower reports will continue to shape congressional oversight and public disclosure efforts.
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