The 2018 Al-Asad Airbase 'Jellyfish' UAP: Analysis of Declassified Sensor Footage Disclosed in 2024

Background of the 2018 Iraq Incident

In January 2024, investigative journalists and former intelligence officials released sensor footage captured by a U.S. military platform over Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq in 2018. The footage, later confirmed by multiple military sources, depicts an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP) with a distinct 'jellyfish' morphology, featuring a bulbous central body and several tentacle-like appendages hanging beneath it. Unlike conventional drones or balloons, the object moved with a fixed orientation, showing no visible means of propulsion or aerodynamic control surfaces.

Technical Analysis of the Sensor Data

The footage was captured using an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, likely a Raytheon MTS-B sensor ball. Analysis of the thermal data shows the object changing temperature significantly, fluctuating between 'white hot' and 'black hot' within seconds. This suggests a sophisticated thermal management system or an unconventional propulsion mechanism that interacts with the surrounding environment in ways that defy standard thermodynamic models. Witnesses stationed at the base reported that the object was not visible to the naked eye or standard night-vision goggles, appearing only on high-end Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems.

Transmedium Capabilities and Deployment

Testimony from personnel present during the event indicates that the 'jellyfish' UAP eventually drifted toward a body of water—identified as Lake Qadisiyah—where it performed a transmedium maneuver. According to sensor operators, the object descended into the water, remained submerged for several minutes, and then re-emerged at a high rate of speed, accelerating at a 45-degree angle until it exited the sensor's field of regard. This behavior aligns with reports from the 2004 Nimitz encounter, where objects demonstrated the ability to move seamlessly between air and water without structural damage or significant deceleration.

Official Response and AARO Evaluation

Following the 2024 public disclosure, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was queried regarding the incident. While AARO officials have generally characterized many UAP sightings as 'balloons' or 'drones' in their 2024 Historical Record Report, the Al-Asad incident remains a point of contention. The lack of an official 'resolved' status for the jellyfish UAP, combined with the specific sensor anomalies documented, maintains its status as a high-confidence unresolved military encounter.