CENTCOM·2022-05-15·Released 2026-05-08·Status: unresolved·1 min read

Iraq May 2022, Baghdad Phantom

ISR mission infrared footage from May 2022 supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, capturing an unidentified small object during routine surveillance over Iraq.

DOW-UAP-PR21: ISR mission infrared footage from CENTCOM Operation Inherent Resolve, May 2022.

AARO / US Central Command

Incident date

2022-05-15

Released

2026-05-08

Source

CENTCOM

Location

Iraq

Sensors

Infrared sensor, Witness reports

Media

video, document

Last verified

2026-05-08

Official description

DOW-UAP-PR21: short infrared sensor video paired with mission narrative reports from CENTCOM personnel involved in Operation Inherent Resolve. The 'Baghdad Phantom' designation references a recurring pattern of small unidentified objects observed during ISR sorties in the region during 2022.

Editor's context

Part of a broader cluster of CENTCOM unresolved encounters in Iraqi airspace during 2022. Limited single-sensor data is typical of these ISR-platform sightings; without corroborating radar or multi-platform tracking, identification rarely advances past the initial flag.

In the margins

Transcribed redactions, stamps, and handwritten markings, the paratext of the file. Often the most human part of a declassified document, and worth reading on its own.

Stampp. DVIDS metadata
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND, DOW-UAP-PR21
Stamp
OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE, ISR MISSION FOOTAGE
Annotation
Recorded during routine intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations supporting the anti-ISIL coalition.
Annotation
The 'Baghdad Phantom' designation references a recurring pattern of small unidentified objects observed during ISR sorties in Iraqi airspace during 2022.

Cite the primary source

Citations center the originating government agency and link to the official record. This archive is listed as the access point, not the author.

U.S. Central Command. "Iraq May 2022, Baghdad Phantom." Released via PURSUE program, 2026-05-08. https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1006059. Accessed 2026-05-12 via Social Media for Aliens archive, https://socialmediaforaliens.com/files/iraq-may-2022-baghdad.

Sources

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