A U.S. congressional hearing revealed declassified video showing a Hellfire missile fired from an MQ-9 Reaper drone striking a UFO off the coast of Yemen on October 30, 2024.

In a moment that has stunned both lawmakers and the public, a U.S. congressional hearing revealed a previously classified video showing a U.S. military missile striking an unidentified flying object off the coast of Yemen.

The footage, presented on September 10, 2025, during a House Oversight Committee session on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, depicted an MQ-9 Reaper drone launching a Hellfire missile at a glowing orb-like object, only to have the missile appear to ricochet off the object, leaving it seemingly unharmed.

The video, dating from October 30, 2024, has sparked renewed debate about the capabilities of U.S. military technology and the mysterious nature of UAPs.

Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), who presented the footage, addressed the committee as the video played. “I’m not going to explain it to you; you’ll see exactly what it does,” he said.

Committee members watched in stunned silence as the missile made contact with the object, producing a flash of light but no apparent destruction.

“This is unlike anything our forces have ever encountered,” Burlison added. The footage has since circulated widely, drawing attention from defense analysts, UFO researchers, and the public.

Lue Elizondo, former Pentagon official and director of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, who has spent years investigating UAPs, provided context for the video. “We’ve never seen a Hellfire missile hit a target and bounce off.

When a missile strikes a solid object, the impact is usually catastrophic. Here, what appears to happen is either a deflection or some extraordinary maneuver by the object itself.

It challenges our understanding of physics and aerial threat engagement,” he explained during a follow-up briefing.

According to military sources familiar with the operation, the drone strike was carried out from a base in Djibouti, utilizing real-time targeting data gathered by reconnaissance drones over international waters near the Yemeni coast.

The missile, a standard AGM-114 Hellfire, was intended to neutralize what analysts initially believed was a hostile aircraft or drone. However, the object’s unusual movement and reaction to the missile indicate it may not conform to known aeronautical behavior.

Committee members pressed witnesses on the implications of the footage for U.S. national security.

Rep. André Carson (D-IN) noted, “If these objects can withstand military-grade ordnance, we are facing a threat scenario unlike anything we’ve trained for. Our air defense protocols may need reevaluation.”

Other lawmakers expressed concern over the lack of prior warning or disclosure regarding such encounters, emphasizing the need for transparency and updated defense strategies.

During the hearing, Rep. Burlison also referenced a series of unexplained incidents reported by Navy pilots off the East Coast of the United States.

“This is not an isolated occurrence. For years, our military personnel have reported objects performing maneuvers impossible for conventional aircraft,” he said.

The revelation that a U.S. missile could strike an object without causing apparent damage underscores the urgency of congressional oversight and investigation.

Defense experts, speaking on background, noted that the video aligns with previously declassified reports of anomalous aerial phenomena.

Analysts highlighted that the UAPs often demonstrate rapid acceleration, sudden stops, and instantaneous changes in direction that defy current aeronautical engineering principles.

“These are not simple drones or manned aircraft,” said one former Air Force pilot. “They appear to operate under rules that we do not yet understand.”

The Pentagon, which has yet to publicly comment on the Yemen incident, confirmed that the MQ-9 Reaper drone involved was part of standard surveillance operations.

However, officials declined to elaborate on the encounter itself, citing ongoing investigations and national security concerns.

Lue Elizondo emphasized that such encounters have long been documented but rarely disclosed to the public. “What is remarkable here is the clarity of the video and the undeniable evidence of an interaction that challenges conventional military engagement rules,” he said.

International experts on aerial phenomena have weighed in, suggesting that the behavior of the object may indicate advanced technology far beyond current human capabilities.

“The object’s apparent invulnerability to a Hellfire missile raises questions about propulsion, material composition, and energy management,” said Dr. Helen Ramirez, a physicist specializing in aerospace engineering.

“If verified, this could fundamentally alter how we think about aerial defense and technological possibilities.”

The congressional hearing also included testimonies from defense contractors and intelligence officials who discussed the historical handling of UAP reports.

Many acknowledged that previous encounters were often downplayed or classified, limiting public and inter-agency awareness. “This video is part of a broader pattern,” one official testified.

“We have multiple incidents across the globe where unidentified objects demonstrate capabilities we cannot currently replicate or counter.”

Public reaction to the footage has been immediate and intense. Social media platforms are flooded with clips of the missile strike, and news outlets around the world have covered the hearing extensively.

Analysts note that the Yemen incident may represent the first time a U.S. missile engagement with a UAP has been publicly documented in real-time video.

As lawmakers continue to demand transparency, the Department of Defense has promised additional briefings on UAP encounters and assessments of potential national security threats.

Rep. Burlison concluded the hearing with a pointed warning: “We must take these incidents seriously. The era of ignoring unexplained aerial phenomena is over. Our citizens and our service members deserve answers, and it is Congress’s responsibility to obtain them.”

The release of the Yemen drone footage marks a pivotal moment in the public understanding of UAPs and the U.S. military’s interactions with them.

While the technology and origin of the object remain unknown, the implications for defense policy, aerospace engineering, and national security are profound.

Analysts predict that further congressional hearings, technical assessments, and international scrutiny will follow, potentially reshaping the discourse on unidentified aerial phenomena for decades to come.