Western US Event

On two separate days in 2023, seven federal law enforcement special agents working in the western United States reported observing several distinct unidentified phenomena during dusk and pre-dawn hours. The observations span four separate categories of sightings, each described in detail by trained personnel and documented by the Department of War. The file represents one of the most significant collections of witness accounts in the holdings of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), according to the document.

The first category involved multiple independent teams witnessing orange orbs that appeared to emit or launch smaller red orbs in groups of two to four over a two-day period. Each orange orb was visible for only one to two seconds before disappearing, while the red orbs generally traveled horizontally away from the larger object. In a few instances, witnesses reported red orbs moving upward at an angle or swooping downward after launch. The sequential nature of these events made it unclear whether a single orange orb was responsible for all launches or whether multiple orbs were involved. A second sighting involved two agents observing a large, glowing orange orb positioned near a rock pinnacle at approximately 500 to 600 meters distance. The object was described as silent and hovering without apparent movement, resembling what one witness likened to a fiery spherical shape. AARO measurements later indicated the object was roughly 1,050 meters away and between 12 to 18 meters in diameter. The object remained visible for about one minute.

Two additional sightings occurred during pre-dawn hours in the same general area within 30 minutes of each other. In the first, agents pursued an object initially mistaken for a vehicle, which then moved laterally off-road at 15 to 20 miles per hour without changing height or orientation. When viewed through night vision goggles, the object appeared as a thin line or triangular shape, approximately 4 feet wide, positioned horizontally to the ground. The second sighting, occurring nearby shortly after, involved a kite-shaped object with a similar lighting pattern hovering about 6 meters off the ground. One agent using night vision goggles reported being able to see stars through the object, suggesting partial transparency, and described an unusual interaction with a spotlight beam that appeared to be blocked by an invisible object before returning to normal projection.

The document contains no sensor data, radar correlations, or photographs independently verifying these observations. Instead, it relies on the detailed descriptions, consistent witness credibility, and the apparent correlation of these events with other reports in AARO's archives. This file was declassified under the U.S. Department of War PURSUE Release 01 and cleared for public release on May 8, 2026.