NJ Officials Raise Concerns Over Mystery Drones as Pentagon Refutes ‘Mothership’ Allegations

December 12, 2024 TruthUSA

A spokesperson for the Pentagon dismissed a lawmaker’s assertions that an Iranian ‘mothership’ located near the U.S. East Coast was responsible for the release of drones.

New Jersey elected officials are increasingly raising concerns about unidentified drones seen above the state, despite the Pentagon’s assertion that these drones are not linked to Iran.

On Thursday morning, Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali stated that the “drone mystery [is] not solved,” reporting that additional drones were observed over Montvale and neighboring Upper Saddle River on Wednesday night.

“It makes me uneasy that we cannot trace their frequencies, unless these drones operate autonomously and are utilizing a frequency range outside of current regulations,” he shared in a Facebook post. “This is concerning. They should still be registered and report their location continuously.”

State Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia also voiced her concerns, stating on Wednesday that “we know nothing,” punctuating her statement with a “PERIOD.” She mentioned on social media that she wanted to make the public aware of her concerns following a meeting with officials from the New Jersey State Police.

She expressed that “military intervention is the only viable solution” at this stage. “Proactivity is essential; answers will not come without it,” she stated.

At present, neither the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), nor any other federal entities have determined the sources or purposes of the drones.

Reports about the unidentified aerial vehicles arose late last November. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) mentioned that he had received information from “very high sources” in the government suggesting the drones could be of Iranian origin.

“Iran launched a mothership about a month ago that contains these drones, and it is located off the east coast of the United States,” he said during an appearance on Fox News this week, highlighting his positions on various House committees related to aviation and transportation.

Van Drew’s comments prompted a statement from Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh at a press briefing on Wednesday.

“This is not accurate. There is no Iranian vessel situated off the East Coast of the United States, nor is there a mothership deploying drones towards the U.S.,” Singh informed reporters when addressing a question regarding the drones.

She noted, “Our initial assessment is that these are not drones or activities linked to a foreign entity or adversary,” based on a transcript released by the DOD.

Following her comments, Van Drew told Fox News that Singh’s remarks were inappropriate and an “incredibly weak” response to the situation regarding Iran. He reiterated that the drones are “much more sophisticated” than standard commercial models and insisted that high-ranking officials confirmed the presence of a drone mothership near the East Coast.

“These drones are advanced systems … ones that we do not possess,” he stated. “We require substantial and detailed answers.”

In a previous post on social media, Fantasia described the drones as being approximately 6 feet in diameter, often flying with their lights turned off, indicating that they don’t seem to be operated by hobbyists.

Concern has risen among residents and officials due to numerous unidentified nighttime flights starting last month, especially with some of the sightings occurring near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research facility, and close to former President Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf course.

Drones are legal for recreational and commercial purposes in New Jersey, subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Operators are required to be FAA-certified.

Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement representatives have indicated that, based on current assessments, the drones do not pose a threat to public safety.

A recently released document from Homeland Security mentions that the FBI is conducting an investigation and has requested community members to provide any videos, photos, or other relevant information.

“There is an active federal investigation into these drone sightings,” the DHS report stated, adding, “Currently, all investigative details are classified as law enforcement sensitive, and questions concerning the investigation should be directed to the FBI.”

The report further noted that it is still “unclear who is operating the drones” in New Jersey, stating that state agencies are not involved in their management.

In response to inquiries concerning military action against the drones, the DHS stated that federal or military entities must first establish whether the drones present a risk.

“Downing a drone poses safety hazards to individuals and property below. Debris from a fallen drone could lead to injuries or damage, particularly in populated areas,” the DHS report explained. “Engaging with a drone also entails legal implications, and unauthorized actions may result in legal consequences.”

This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.

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