US releases second batch of declassified UFO files

He is the latest president to release US government reports ‌on unidentified ‌flying ⁠objects, a disclosure process that began in ​the late 1970s.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the documents, photos and videos of what are officially known as "unidentified anomalous phenomena" had long fuelled speculation.

"It's time ⁠the American people ‌see ​it for themselves," he said in a statement.

One ​of the 222 ‌files released on Friday contains 116 pages of ​documentation relating to a series of reported sightings and investigations in a top ​secret ​facility in Sandia, ​New Mexico, from 1948 to 1950.

"This ‌file contains 209 sightings of 'green orbs', 'discs', and 'fireballs' reported near the military base," the Defense Department said.

Experts said the first batch contained new videos ​of known sightings but gave no conclusive evidence ​of alien ⁠technology or extraterrestrial life.