UFO sightings in Iraq

This is a list of alleged sightings of unidentified flying objects or UFOs in Iraq.
2003
The first sightings were reported to occur on March 19, 2003 when unexplained lights were observed near Kirkuk by civilians and paramilitary forces. March 19, 2003 also coincides with the invasion of Iraq by United States and the Coalition forces, marking the beginning of the Iraq War. Many witnesses claimed to have seen actual flying objects. Other witnesses claimed they could identify the objects as flaming debris from air strikes, airplanes, or lightning. As of March 19, 2003, any explanation of the strange lights remained unknown.
Another UFO was sighted in Kirkuk on March 23, 2003 when BBC News was making a report on the Iraq war situation when one of the reporters saw a triangular shaped UFO which was briefly filmed. The object flew by for a brief second before disappearing. There was no evidence that the UFO was a fighter jet or a cargo plane. On April 3, 2003 a UFO was photographed flying over Baghdad, the craft was not seen by any of the civilians or soldiers (except the photographer) and its unclear of what the object really was.
On April 6, 2003 five cylindrical shaped UFOs were sighted near the Tigris River and that the objects were televised live on Fox News although there's no evidence that Fox News itself actually recorded the objects.
Theories and explanations about Iraq sightings
Numerous theories arose during the Iraq UFO sightings. Some Iraqi civilians believed that the UFOs were sent by God to protect holy and religious sites. Others claimed the craft was from outer space. However skeptics refute this claim, saying that the UFOs were either UAVs - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, debris from explosions, planets or hoaxes.
Rumors of an Iraq base
Many UFO groups suggest that Saddam Hussein had an Area 51-like base somewhere in Iraq. According to these groups, they believe, the base housed a UFO that crashed either during the Gulf War in 1991 or Operation Desert Fox in 1998. However there is little evidence that such a base exists or that the UFO crash even happened.
Disputed photographs
One of the disputed photos was the alleged photo of a UFO taken while one of the statues of Saddam Hussein was being torn down. According to the source the photo depicts a dark, rectangular-shaped object. However, it is unclear if this is a UFO or a piece of debris that fell off when the statue was demolished.

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