Mosul Orb — Metallic Sphere Over War Zone

In April 2016, a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft filmed a metallically gleaming sphere over the active war zone of Mosul, Iraq. The image was used in a classified Pentagon briefing video and only declassified publicly in January 2023 — the first UAP image ever released from an active conflict zone. In July 2025, the complete video (previously only a still image was known) was released. AARO Director Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick confirmed the investigation. The sphere shows no propulsion systems, no wings, no exhaust plumes. The shape is nearly identical to the Buga Sphere (Colombia, 2025) and other orb UAPs. Transmedium capabilities (air/water) have been documented in similar objects.