U.S. Coast Guard officials said a U.S. vessel was recently tracked by dozens of drones off the coast of New Jersey, according to Rep. Chris Smith (RN.J.).
Smith, who was a guest on Tuesday's “The Story with Martha McCallum,” spent Monday night at an Ocean County beach with several people, including the commander of the U.S. Coast Guard stationed at Barnegat Light. He said he spoke with him.
Smith learned from the Coast Guard commander the night before that “one of the 47-foot vessels was being followed very closely by over a dozen drones.”
“Now, to me, it's very, very, not only just questionable and provocative, but this could be a foreign force. [Vladimir] “It could be President Putin, or China's Xi Jinping, or even the Middle East, and we cannot rule out that possibility,” the lawmaker said.
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Photo taken on Sunday, December 8, 2024 in the Bayshore neighborhood of Toms River. What appears to be a large drone hovering over the area at high altitude in New Jersey. The drone appeared to have an altitude of 400 feet, well above the FAA regulations allowing. (Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press)
A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that “multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed.” [the] Near one of the military branch vessels near Island Beach State Park, New Jersey.
“While no immediate threat or disruption of operations was identified, the Coast Guard is assisting the FBI and state agencies in understanding the type, origin, and intent of these aircraft and addressing potential risks to safety and public security. ” said the spokesperson. “We take any aircraft activity near federal facilities seriously and encourage the public to report any suspicious activity to local authorities.”
Reports of large drones flying over various parts of the Garden State have increased in recent weeks, including near President-elect Trump's Bedminster golf course and military research facilities.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R.N.J.) said Wednesday that “very qualified” and “reliable” sources say the mysterious drone flying over New Jersey is an Iranian aircraft anchored off the U.S. East Coast. He said he believed it was coming from the “mother ship” of the United States.
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Congressman Jeff Van Drew speaks to the press after meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on December 19, 2019. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“This is the real deal,” Van Drew told Fox News' Harris Faulkner. “I've been on the Transportation Committee and the Aviation Subcommittee, and I've gotten to know people. And I've gotten information from very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources. I'll tell you… Iran launched a mothership probably about a month ago that has these drones on board, and that mothership is off the east coast of the United States.
Van Drew declined to name the informant, citing confidentiality.
The lawmaker then said Iran had signed a deal with China to buy drones, motherships and technology.
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New Jersey Drone Sightings Map (Fox & Friends/Screenshot)
“…These drones should be shot down,” Van Drew said. “Whether it was some crazy hobbyist we can't imagine, or whether it was Iran – and I think that's very likely – they should be shot down. There is no agreement and the military is on alert.'' “
Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told Fox News' Jennifer Griffin during a Wednesday press conference that mysterious drones spotted over residential areas and military bases in New Jersey came from a foreign enemy. He said there was no evidence that.
Singh also said the drones pose no threat to U.S. military facilities.
When asked about Van Drew's comments, Singh said there was “no truth” to his claims.
US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) said it is aware of and monitoring reports of unauthorized drone flights near military installations in New Jersey, including Naval Weapons Station Earle.
USNORTHCOM added that it is aware of the situation but has not been requested to assist with the event. Instead, all questions were deferred to military installations.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Naval Weapons Station Earle for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
A local ABC station in the Seattle, Washington, area posted a report of a response from a naval base regarding recent drone activity.
“We are aware of reports of increased drone activity in New Jersey and Monmouth County and are actively monitoring the situation,” Navy base officials said in a statement. “Over the past several days, we have received reports from neighboring communities and law enforcement partners regarding drone activity near our facilities, and we can confirm at least one instance in which an unidentified drone entered the airspace over Naval Weapons Station Earle. ”
Fox News' Liz Friden and Taylor Penley contributed to this report.
