Mystery Drone Swarm Over Sensitive Areas In New Jersey Leaving Residents Uneasy

A swarm of drones has left everyone tensed in New Jersey after flying close to sensitive areas and even trailing a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. On Sunday night, over a dozen drones were seen closely following a 47-foot Coast Guard motor lifeboat off the coast near Asbury Park.

Rep. Chris Smith, who spoke with Coast Guard officials stationed in Barnegat Light, described the incident as both suspicious and provocative.

The Coast Guard confirmed the activity, saying that low-altitude drones were spotted near their vessel but did not disrupt operations. They are now assisting the FBI and local authorities in investigating the situation.

The recent days have seen an increased number of drone sightings across New Jersey, with reports of unmanned aircraft near military installations, critical infrastructure, and residential areas.

Witnesses have described some of the drones as unusually large, far exceeding the size of standard commercial models.

Military bases in the region, including Naval Weapons Station Earle and Picatinny Arsenal, confirmed that the drones did not come from their facilities.

The Pentagon has also ruled out any immediate plans to take down the drones, citing no evidence of a threat to national security.

During a congressional hearing, FBI Assistant Director Robert Wheeler admitted that authorities have no information on who is operating the drones. “That’s the most concerning part,” Wheeler said.

The U.S. Northern Command, which oversees homeland air defense, has also reviewed the situation but has not been asked to intervene.

There have been different speculations about the origin of the drone. Some experts believe that the lighting patterns on certain large drones resemble those found on advanced military aircraft, such as the F-35B jet or AW-139 helicopters.

While, Rep. Jeff Van Drew has added that the drones might be linked to Iran, claiming they could have been launched from a “mothership” stationed off the U.S East Coast.

However, satellite imagery shows that Iran’s known drone motherships remain docked in their home port of Bandar Abbas, over 6,000 miles away.

The Pentagon has dismissed the possibility of foreign involvement, with spokesperson Sabrina Singh saying “There is no evidence to suggest these drones are linked to any adversary.”

In response to the concerns, Rep. Chris Smith has urged Defense Secretary of the U.S., Lloyd Austin to deploy resources from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to identify and address the drone activity.

The base has technology capable of detecting and neutralising unauthorised drones.

Smith spent Monday night monitoring the skies with local authorities and is deeply concerned. “New Jersey residents deserve answers, not vague assurances,” he said.

Officials have reassured the public that the drones pose no immediate threat, but the unexplained activity has left many residents uneasy.

References: Fox News, Chris Smith. house

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