A recent House Government Oversight subcommittee hearing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) brought to light startling visual evidence: a video depicting a U.S. Hellfire missile fired from an MQ-9 Reaper drone at a fast-moving object off the coast of Yemen on October 30, 2024. The released footage, presented by Representative Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), shows the missile impacting the object, which then appeared to continue its trajectory largely unaffected, with some debris noted falling away.
Investigative journalist George Knapp, who testified at the hearing, described the event, stating that the Hellfire missile seemed to "bounce right off" the object and that it "kept going." The implications of such an encounter are significant, raising questions about the nature of the object and its potential resilience to known military technology.
This incident occurred during a period of heightened military activity in the region, specifically within the context of Operation Rough Rider, a U.S. campaign of air and naval strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen that commenced on March 15, 2025. Lawmakers present at the hearing emphasized the need for greater public access to such footage and information, with Representative Burlison advocating for increased transparency.
The Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) continues its work investigating UAP reports. While AARO's latest report indicated that many previously reviewed cases were resolved to prosaic explanations, a number of incidents remain under analysis. The Department of Defense has offered limited comment on the specific video, with a spokesperson stating, "I have nothing for you," underscoring the sensitive nature of such disclosures.
The background of the incident places it within the broader context of U.S. military operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation. This particular video, however, focuses on an encounter that predates the broader operation by several months, highlighting the ongoing nature of UAP observations even during active military engagements. This disclosure during a congressional hearing signifies a continued push by lawmakers for greater understanding and transparency surrounding UAP encounters. The visual evidence, if further authenticated and analyzed, could contribute significantly to the ongoing discourse on unexplained aerial events and their potential implications for national security.
The event also underscores the persistent interest in UAP phenomena, with historical context including a public hearing on UAPs by a House Intelligence Committee subcommittee in May 2022, marking the first such public discussion in over fifty years.