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report
A mission report detailing the observation of an unidentified low-flying object, initially identified as a possible missile, by a P-8A aircraft in the Eastern Mediterranean near Latakia, Syria, on November 18, 2016.
67.1 P-8A OBSERVES UNIDENTIFIED LOW-FLYING OBJECT 55 NM NORTHWEST OF LATAKIA, SYRIA 18 NOV 2016 BLUF: While monitoring KCTG activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, P-8A, observed an unidentified low-flying object 55 nm northwest of Latakia from an unknown origin, traveling at approx 500KTS on a southeasterly heading outbound from KCTG, for ~2 minutes. Timeline (Z): (1) [REDACTED] 18/1310Z: P-8 observed a possible missile launch IVO [REDACTED] from an origin unknown detected via the EO/IR sensor. The possible missile appeared to be in sea skim mode traveling at approximately 500KTS on a southeasterly heading outbound from KCTG. P-8 position was 26NM S of object detection at 16121 FT [REDACTED] (2) [REDACTED] 18/1312Z: - P-8 lost visual of the object IVO [REDACTED] approx. 40 NM northwest of Latakia. The missile was observed to pass between (RUS) INGUL ARS and 1x U/I vessel. Weather: (U) P-8 aircrew characterized visibility as clear, no range limitations. CTG 67.1 Comments: The mission commander for P-8 characterized the interaction as safe. While this was the first observed occurrence of possible missile activity by P-8 aircraft in the Eastern Mediterranean it is assessed to be standard activity consistent with the assessed activity of the KCTG. Video footage can be found at this link: [REDACTED] USCENTCOM MDR 26-0038 to MDR 26-0046 Approved for Release to AARO 03/27/26 000001