New Jersey drone sightings explained: Kirby dispels fears
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 were hiding knowledge about "mysterious" drones.
During the briefing, John Kirby emphasized that, according to American service assessments, the observed drones include commercial, hobbyist, and police drones and civilian aircraft.
This assessment comes from representatives of law enforcement, after "having closely examined the data, having closely looked at the tips and collated them the best we can from concerned citizens," noted the spokesperson.
Kirby's statement marked the first official response from U.S. authorities to a series of drone sightings in New Jersey and neighboring 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 worth 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, with thousands of commercial, hobbyist, and police drones 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, the new team was engaged in discussions on key national security topics, including the war in Ukraine, to provide insight into ongoing actions, communicated messages, and the reasoning behind them, he explained.
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.
