The Yemen "orb" and the Hellfire missile: aliens or not?

Worth watchingCredible data, genuinely open. The cases that could move the meter.

The claim

"A US drone's missile hit a glowing orb and appeared to bounce off."

Rep. Eric Burlison played the video at a House Oversight task force hearing on 9 September 2025, saying it came from a whistleblower.

The infrared video shows a missile approaching a bright object, a flash, and something continuing on a changed path.
The Pentagon has not publicly explained it or confirmed the full context.
Analysts point out that thermal video, a near miss with a proximity fuse, or debris can look like a deflection.
The object's size, speed and the missile's telemetry, which would settle it, have not been released.

Release of the full sensor record, or an AARO case resolution, would decide this one. Weigh the explanations and vote.

Worth watching Real military video with no official explanation yet.

Checked 31 October 2026. Spotted a newer source? Tell us.

Our summary of the main hypotheses, with what supports and what counts against each one.

A near miss: the missile detonated close to the object
For Hellfire variants can detonate by proximity; on thermal video a near miss, the blast and debris can look like a hit and a deflection.
Against Burlison and the whistleblower describe the object continuing on a changed path, which needs the full video and telemetry to check.
A balloon or other light object knocked away
For A lightweight balloon could be pushed by the blast wave rather than destroyed. Balloons explain many infrared "orbs".
Against Nobody has shown the object's size, altitude or speed, so this is a guess too.
An infrared or video artefact
For Thermal cameras saturate on hot objects and explosions; compression and tracking can make things appear to bounce.
Against Doesn't explain why a crew fired at the object in the first place.
A hostile or foreign drone
For In late 2024 the area saw intense Houthi drone and missile activity. A small hardened drone fits the setting.
Against Would usually be destroyed or at least visibly damaged by a Hellfire.
Non-human technology
For If the object really survived a direct hit and kept flying, that would be extraordinary.
Against We have one short clip from a whistleblower, no official authentication and no sensor data.

One vote per visitor. Results appear after you vote.

Any Pentagon or AARO statement authenticating the clip (in September 2025 officials said they had "nothing to provide").
Release of the full MQ-9 video and missile telemetry, for example through PURSUE.
Further House Oversight task force hearings.