LOS ANGELES - The Pentagon on Friday began the release of "never-before-seen" files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), commonly known as unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The collection is being housed on a government website, war.gov/UFO. Additional files will be released by the US Department of Defense on a rolling basis, according to a press release from the department.

A total of 161 files are currently available on the website.

"The American people can now access the federal government's declassified UAP files instantly. The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from across the entire United States government are all in one place -- no clearance required," the press release said.

According to the release, the disclosure follows U.S. President Donald Trump's directive to begin identifying and declassifying government files related to UAP.