DoD Withholds All Analysis Records on Its Own Released Middle East UAP Video
The Department of Defense denied a FOIA request for internal analysis, review protocols, and technical documentation related to the Middle East 2024 UAP infrared video that AARO itself had publicly released in May 2025.
Background
Overview
In September 2025, the Department of Defense issued a final response denying a FOIA request filed in May 2025 by The Black Vault. The request sought all internal communications, review protocols, classification guidelines, and technical documentation related to the Middle East 2024 UAP infrared video that AARO had publicly released earlier that year.
Background
In May 2025, AARO released over six minutes of infrared footage showing an unidentified object recorded by a military asset in the Middle East in 2024. The video was published through the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. Despite making the footage public, the DoD refused to release any records about how the video was reviewed, analyzed, or declassified.
Key Details
The DoD invoked FOIA exemptions (b)(5) for deliberative process privilege and (b)(7)(A-E) for law enforcement records. This creates a paradox: the government released the UAP footage publicly but simultaneously claims that all records about its own analysis of that footage must remain secret. The Black Vault characterized this as a contradiction in the governments stated transparency commitments regarding UAP.
Significance
Highlights the paradox in government UAP transparency: DoD released UAP footage publicly but refuses to share any analysis of that same footage, undermining stated openness commitments.