U.S. Congressman: Sources Claim Mystery Drones Over New Jersey Come From ‘Mothership’ Sent By Iran

Mystery drones flying over New Jersey are coming from a “mothership” off the East Coast of the United States sent by Iran, a U.S. congressman asserted on Wednesday, citing “qualified sources.”

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) made the stunning claim during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday, a day after a senior FBI official testified to Congress that the bureau was clueless about the sightings.

BREAKING REPORT – DRONES OVER NEW JERSEY ARE FROM IRAN: Congressman Jeff Van Drew claims Iran has stationed a "mothership" off the U.S. East Coast, reportedly launching drones now flying over New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/ayV8tYioXA

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 11, 2024

“Here’s the real deal,” Van Drew said before noting that he sits on the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and he’s “gotten to know people.”

He said: “From very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources, I’m going to tell you the real deal: Iran launched a mothership, probably about a month ago, that contains these drones.”

The “mothership” is located off the East Coast and has been launching the drones, Van Drew said, again citing his “high sources” and noting that he did not “say this lightly.”

Van Drew said there was a “probability” that the drones were coming from “our own government,” but he contended that is not the case “because they would have let us know.”

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The congressman also said the drones could have come from a “really glorified hobbyist or hobbyists that were doing something unbelievable,” but he stated they “don’t have the technology.”

Van Drew said Iran “made a deal with China to purchase drones, motherships, and technology.” He added that he cannot reveal his sources “because they are speaking to me in confidentiality.”

Drones have been spotted mainly over New Jersey but also in New York. The sightings have been reported near military sites, a power plant, and President-elect Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster.

Van Drew, a former Democrat who joined the Republican Party in 2019 while opposing the Ukraine-focused impeachment effort against Trump, said the drones “should be shot down.”

During the Tuesday hearing, an FBI official said the bureau was flummoxed by the sightings. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said a sheriff told him an officer saw 50 drones “come in off the ocean.”

Smith also spoke about a commanding officer in the Coast Guard claiming a 47-foot motor lifeboat “was followed by between 12 and 30 of these drones as they went through the water.”

NJ Rep. Chris Smith to Military: Please Shoot Down One Of These Drones And Find Out What It Is

Read more – https://t.co/SLKjvH569s

"I know you have the capability to identify and bring down drones. Why can’t you deploy them, at least to the ocean, bring one of these down, and… https://t.co/wtEmn34f5u pic.twitter.com/lDRBzQ41qt

— RCP Video (@rcpvideo) December 10, 2024

The congressman said he asked about the rules of engagement, noting the officer would engage “if you’re fighting against a narco-trafficker or something,” and the officer said, “We don’t know, we don’t have any.”

Smith then recalled a “very good conversation” with the commanding officer at a joint base in his district, Col. Anthony Smith of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the 87th Air Base Wing.

“I said, ‘I know you have the capability … to identify and bring down drones. Why can’t you deploy them, at least to the ocean, bring one of these down, and find out who’s doing it? They have the capability.'”

Smith continued: “He said, ‘We don’t have the authority, only within the parameters of our base.’ Well, there’s a national interest here. Our jets fly over the ocean all the time for training …”

The congressman said he wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, “asking that the capability that may be sitting in a closet somewhere — I know they use it all the time — but, you know, bring it out.”

Smith emphasized that he was not saying that the military needs to “share it” with the sheriffs,” but added, “It’d be nice.” He went on to say: “Just do it yourself in the interests of the American public.”