The Facts

• Between May 2023 and June 2024, the US Defense Department received 757 new reports of "unidentified anomalous phenomena" (UAP) — a number of them near strategic installations. Of these, 21 remain unexplained, the Pentagon's latest annual report has said.

• The department is said to be intrigued by the UAPs or UFOs. The Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office's (AARO) report was released Thursday amid rising public interest that has reportedly led the government to clear the air.

• The reported incidents include a near-miss between a commercial airliner and a mysterious a "cylindrical object" near New York, a "jellyfish" UAP with flashing lights, and unidentified aircraft shadowing or following military air crews.