Were The Drones Flying Over New Jersey From Iran? Pentagon Official Responds To Republican's Claims

12/12/2024 07:05 PM

New Jersey is facing a mysterious drone invasion, prompting calls for a state of emergency. Officials speculate that these drones may be originating from an Iranian mothership stationed off the East Coast.

Republican Rep Jeff Van Drew revealed Wednesday that Iran launched the vessel roughly a month ago, following a deal with China to acquire drones, a mothership, and other technologies. "These drones should be shot down," he told FOX News, "The military is on full alert with this," he added.

Drone Invasion Sparks Emergency Response In New Jersey

However, the Pentagon swiftly dismissed these claims, asserting that there's no evidence linking the drones to an adversary and denying the existence of an Iranian mothership off the coast. In a briefing, Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said, "At this time, we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary."

Concerns over unexplained UFOs, specifically 'car-sized' drones, began in mid-November, as reported by Futurism. These drones were spotted over the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway and the golf course of the then President-elect in Bedminster.

"The State of New Jersey should issue a limited state of emergency banning all drones until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings," said Sen Jon Bramnick (R) during a Tuesday congressional hearing.

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: A Growing Concern

The FBI acknowledged its inability to identify the culprits behind the flying objects, while the US military denied involvement. The White House has confirmed that it is closely monitoring the situation.

During the meeting, Rep Chris Smith (R) shared a report detailing a swarm of 50 drones approaching from the ocean, observed following US Coast Guard vessels. The representative suspects involvement of "Putin, Xi Jinping in China or the Middle East," further noting, "We cannot rule any of that out."

Mayors from 21 New Jersey towns have united in a plea to Governor Phil Murphy for statewide action against the mysterious drone incursions. Singh, meanwhile, clarified that these drones are not of US military origin and dismissed the theory of an Iranian mothership launching them.

The White House addressed the drone issue on Tuesday evening, weeks after New Jersey residents raised concerns. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed President Biden's awareness of the matter but couldn't specify the exact timing of his briefing.

"I cannot make any predictions kind of predictions," she responded when asked about their potential control. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was first alerted about the unusual activity near the military base on 18th November, six days after the initial drone sightings.

Unidentified Drones Scare East Coast Residents

The initial video footage captured drones equipped with green and red lights on their wings. Eyewitness accounts described them as large as small cars. "There is nothing known that would lead me to say that, but we just don't know and that's the concerning part," Robert Wheeler, assistant FBI director, said at the hearing.

Wheeler informed Congress that their tip line, established last week, had already received over 3,000 sighting reports. Drones have been reported in 12 counties: Sussex, Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Monmouth, Ocean, Camden, Burlington, Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris, and Warren.

These UFOs have been sighted over critical infrastructure such as water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments, and military installations. Earlier this month, Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella wrote a letter to the FAA and FBI, urging an investigation into the drone sightings reported on Staten Island, as reported by PIX 11.

Wheeler addressed concerns about public safety, responding, "Are we concerned there are nefarious intentions that could cause either an actual security or public safety incident? There's nothing that is known that would lead me to say that, but we just don't know. And that's the concerning part of it."

Social Media Buzzes With Drone Mystery

New Jersians have taken to social media, particularly a dedicated Facebook group, to share sightings of these bizarre drones. Resident John Mastrogiovanni shared: "They are definitely coming in from the ocean, I live on the bay and can see them every night coming in from the ocean."

"10-15 at a time. Once they hit land, some will turn their lights off and go a different direction and some are low and some high. The ones I saw are low, pretty loud, and sound like an engine on it. They move slowly then speed up pretty quickly it's every night. They are 4-5' in size and use green and red lights."

An anonymous Reddit user shared a video on Monday, capturing a shiny object flying over a construction site in Florence, New Jersey. The small, circular object was captured on camera around 2 PM, rapidly moving across the sky in a rotating motion.

The mysterious drone sightings continue to baffle authorities and intrigue the public. As investigations unfold, New Jersey residents remain vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on the skies.