Drone sightings in New Jersey not a mystery, says U.S. official
The U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, assured on Monday that the observed drone activity in New Jersey and surrounding areas involves legal hobbyist, commercial, and police drones. He addressed accusations that authorities are hiding knowledge about "mysterious" drones.
During the briefing, John Kirby emphasized that, according to assessments by American services, the observed drones include commercial, hobbyist, and police drones as well as civilian aircraft.
This assessment comes from law enforcement representatives after "having closely examined the data, having closely looked at the tips and collated them the best we can from concerned citizens," noted the spokesman.
Kirby's statement marked the first official response from U.S. authorities to a series of drone observations in New Jersey and neighbouring states in recent weeks. Reports of "mysterious" unmanned aerial vehicles began on November 18, when drones were spotted over military installations. In the subsequent weeks, increased observations caused concern among residents, internet users, and politicians from both parties.
The spokesperson explained that the service's assessment is based on an in-depth analysis of over 5,000 reports, of which fewer than 100 were deemed worthy of further investigation. He also admitted that in several cases, drones were observed near military bases but emphasized that this is not a new phenomenon.
Kirby noted that in the United States, there are over a million registered private unmanned aerial vehicles, and thousands of commercial, hobbyist, and police drones are in the air every day.
The spokesperson speculated that the current commotion results from initial reports triggering an avalanche of interest, causing more people to start looking up at the sky.
Further U.S. aid for Ukraine
During the briefing, he also addressed the issue of delivering American ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. He explained that the decision was made before the elections and responded to developments on the front.
Following the elections, discussions were held with the incoming team to address key national security topics, including the war in Ukraine, to explain ongoing actions, communication strategies, and their underlying rationale, he stated.
Kirby emphasized that as long as the current administration is in power, the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" applies. Referring to suggestions that Ukraine should "make a deal" with Russia and give up part of its territory, he stressed that the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
