The Pentagon on Wednesday dismissed claims that drones spotted over New Jersey were linked to a foreign entity or adversary, specifically rejecting assertions by Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew that they were launched from an Iranian “mothership” off the U.S. East Coast.
Earlier in the day, Van Drew had posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, suggesting a connection between the drones and an Iranian vessel. “What we’ve uncovered is alarming—drones flying in from the direction of the ocean, possibly linked to a missing Iranian mothership,” he wrote.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh categorically denied the claim. “There is no truth to that. 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,” Singh told reporters.
She clarified that the drones were not operated by the U.S. military and posed no threat to military installations. Consequently, no drones had been intercepted or shot down. The matter, Singh said, is under investigation by local law enforcement.
Van Drew reiterated his claims in an interview with Fox News, alleging the existence of the so-called Iranian “mothership,” despite the Pentagon’s dismissal. Investigations into the source of the drones are ongoing.
