Mysterious drone sightings in the US have sparked concern, with dozens of reports in New Jersey in recent weeks. While some lawmakers have suggested the drones may be linked to Iran, the Pentagon has denied this, saying there is no Iranian "mothership" off the East Coast.
New Jersey State Representative Jeff Van Drew claimed on Wednesday that he had heard from "high sources" that the drones were tied to Iran. However, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, flatly rejected this claim at a briefing on Wednesday.
"There is no truth to that," she said. "There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States."
The Pentagon's initial assessment is that the drones are not coming from a foreign entity or adversary. The FBI has also been unable to explain the sightings, with Assistant Director Robert Wheeler Jr stating that they are actively investigating but have no answer yet.
Despite this, some lawmakers remain skeptical. New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia disavowed the Pentagon's assertions, saying that the drones appear to avoid detection and operate in a coordinated manner. She was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday and claimed that the drones are up to 6ft in diameter and travel with lights turned off.
The sightings have been reported near sensitive military locations in New Jersey, including Picatinny Arsenal and President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster. Governor Phil Murphy has said that the drones do not appear to pose a public safety concern.
The incident has drawn comparisons to similar sightings over US airbases in the UK in late November. Defence sources told the BBC that suspicion had fallen on a "state actor" being responsible for those incursions. An investigation is ongoing.
It remains unclear what is behind the mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey, but for now, the Pentagon is sticking to its assessment that they are not coming from a foreign entity or adversary.
