In a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/04/text-of-a-letter-from-the-president-to-the-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives-and-the-president-pro-tempore-of-the-senate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> released on Tuesday to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate President Pro Tempore Charles Grassley (R-IA), President Donald Trump stated that he had directed the Department of Defense to deploy additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to counter Houthi attacks on American shipping.
In the letter, dated March 28, Trump noted that he was following his duty to keep Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution.
He started by pointing out that the Houthis in Yemen had “perpetrated piratical aggressions against shipping and have continued to threaten and attack United States forces in the airspace and waters in and around Yemen,” continuing, “I will no longer allow this band of pirates to threaten and attack United States forces and commercial vessels in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.”
“Consistent with my commitment to defend United States forces and to uphold navigational rights and freedoms,” Trump wrote, he directed the Department of Defense to “move additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to enhance the defensive capabilities available to United States forces and facilitate necessary military actions. These forces include capabilities for air and missile defense of Israel and of locations hosting United States forces as well as fighter, support, and reconnaissance aircraft to enable strikes on Houthi targets.”
“Forces under United States Central Command have commenced large-scale strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen to eliminate the capabilities the Houthis use for attacks on United States forces and commercial ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters,” he acknowledged. “United States Navy ships and aircraft, along with United States Air Force bombers, fighters, and unmanned aircraft, operating in and around Yemen, have participated in these strikes. Targets have included Houthi leadership and equipment, command and control facilities, and munitions storage facilities. We will continue these decisive military operations until the Houthi threat to United States forces and navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and adjacent waters has abated.”
“I directed these actions consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action,” he concluded.
In addition to their <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/houthi-terrorists-strike-u-s-cargo-ship-carrying-humanitarian-aid-to-yemen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attacks on American-owned ships</a>, the Houthis have shot down a number of Reaper drones with surface-to-air missiles, some Russian-made. “The strikes against MQ-9 Reaper drones impair US intelligence and targeting systems and help the Houthis shore up domestic and regional support. And, with the Houthis’ ties to China, Russia, and Iran, downed MQ-9 Reaper drones could end up in the hands of U.S. adversaries,” the Atlantic Council <a href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/houthi-strikes-on-us-mq9-reaper-drones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>. “Tactically, the Houthi shootdowns of MQ-9 drones primarily aim to blind the US intelligence and targeting systems. &#8230; Russia has significantly deepened <a href="https://gulfif.org/russian-support-for-yemens-houthi-movement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political engagements</a> with the Houthis &#8230; Beijing seems to have intensified engagement with the Houthis since mid-November 2023.”

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-EASTER-EGG ROLL

Trump Orders Troops To Middle East To Counter Houthi Attacks

Department of Defense

Donald Trump

Drones

Executive

Global Politics

Houthis

Politics

Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on the area of Moscow on Tuesday amid ongoing peace negotiations attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia.
During the attack, during which 343 drones were downed over Russia, three employees of a meat warehouse were killed and 17 other people were injured, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-launches-drone-attacks-targeting-moscow-russia-says-2025-03-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The attack reportedly caused Moscow’s four airports to be temporarily shut down.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, residential buildings were also struck.
Russia attacked Ukraine on Tuesday with a ballistic missile and 126 drones over various parts of the country, injuring two people, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-air-force-says-it-downed-russian-ballistic-missile-79-drones-2025-03-11/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The ballistic Iskander-M missile and 79 of the drones were shot down, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The attack reportedly set a fuel storage facility, a private home, and a storage site for children’s toys, on fire in Odesa, according to Reuters.
President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-warns-of-sanctions-on-russia-if-no-peace-is-achieved" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expressed</a> frustration with Russia on Friday for “absolutely pounding Ukraine on the battlefield” amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Trump said he is considering imposing sanctions on Russia until a peace deal is reached.
Rubio and other American officials met with their Ukrainian counterparts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Several hours into the meetings, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told reporters, &#8220;We&#8217;re getting there.&#8221;
On Monday, Rubio and Waltz met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman Al Saud in Jeddah, where Rubio thanked the Saudi leader for hosting the United States in talks to help resolve the Ukraine war.
The U.S.-moderated peace talks come just weeks after Trump and Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-vance-clash-with-zelensky-in-fiery-white-house-meeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clashed</a> with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a broadcast White House meeting last month that ended with the Ukrainian leader being asked to leave. Zelensky <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/zelensky-backtracks-after-missteps-with-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">backtracked</a> a few days later, committing to being ready to negotiate peace.

US And Ukrainian Delegations Meet In Saudi Arabia

Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Attack On Russia Amid Ongoing Peace Talks In Saudi Arabia 

Marco Rubio

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Ukraine

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is flying MQ-9 Reaper drones over Mexico as part of President Donald Trump&#8217;s efforts to revamp the war against transnational drug cartels.
CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/18/politics/cia-drone-missions-mexico-drug-cartels/index.html">reported</a> that the move comes as the administration has deployed significant resources to the southern border to stop illegal aliens and drugs from pouring into the United States at the unprecedented rate experienced during the Biden administration.
The unarmed drones are currently only conducting spy missions against the cartels. The CIA can arm the drones and use them against foreign enemies, which it has often done when fighting Islamic terrorists in the Middle East and Africa.
The administration is treating the cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO), a designation that it has not yet formally made but likely will in the coming weeks, which could lay the groundwork for using the drones to kill top cartel leaders and destroy manufacturing sites.
The CIA said in a statement that “countering drug cartels in Mexico and regionally is a priority for CIA as a part of the Trump Administration’s broader efforts to end the grave threat from narco-trafficking. Director [John] Ratcliffe is determined to put CIA’s unique expertise to work against this multifaceted challenge.”
Mexican officials, powerless to counter the vastly larger and more powerful U.S. government, have downplayed the CIA drones flying over Mexico, claiming that they do &#8220;not violate national airspace,&#8221; according to Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum did not resist the notion of drones flying over Mexican airspace to fight the cartels.
&#8220;The important thing here, I think, in the declaration, which is what we have always proposed, is that they share information with the Government of Mexico,&#8221; she said.
Trump’s top goals for the agency revolve around trade wars, undermining communist China, and destroying the drug cartels.
The president was asked the day after he was sworn into office if he would consider &#8220;sending U.S. special forces into Mexico&#8221; to take out the cartels.
“Could happen,” Trump said with a large grin on his face. “Stranger things have happened.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="‘Stranger Things Have Happened’: Trump Flashes A Giant Grin When Asked About Cartels" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t_XT3hPxbT0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-confirms-john-ratcliffe-as-trumps-cia-director">Senate Confirms John Ratcliffe As Trump’s CIA Director</a>

Reaper Aircraft Flies Without Pilot From Creech AFB

CIA Operating Reaper Drones Over Mexico In War Against Drug Cartels

Cartels

Crime

Drug Cartels

Mexico

As drones become more standard in warfare, Israel‘s Defense Ministry (IMOD) is working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD) to develop anti-drone technology.
In January 2024, three U.S. Army soldiers were killed, and more than 30 service members were injured by a drone attack at a U.S. outpost in Jordan. “Officials said the drone was fired by Iran-backed militants and appeared to come from Syria,” CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/28/politics/us-troops-drone-attack-jordan/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. “Mexican drug cartels are ordering their members to attack US Border Patrol agents with kamikaze drones and other explosives in a desperate bid to thwart the crackdown at the border, according to an internal memo obtained by The Post,” The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/02/03/us-news/mexican-cartels-order-suicide-drone-attacks-on-border-patrol/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> this week.
The Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD) “identifies and develops capabilities for DOD and Interagency customers to conduct Irregular Warfare against all adversaries, including Great Power competitors and non-state actors,” the entity <a href="https://www.cttso.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> of itself. “Irregular Warfare is a struggle among state and non-state actors to influence populations and affect legitimacy. Irregular Warfare favors indirect and asymmetric approaches, though it may employ the full range of military and other capabilities, in order to erode an adversary&#8217;s power, influence, and will. It includes specific missions of unconventional warfare (UW), stabilization, foreign internal defense (FID), counterterrorism (CT), and counterinsurgency (COIN).”
Tests concluded in Israel on Tuesday follow an initial series of completed trials conducted in October 2024. The tests included nine different Israeli arms contractors and startups demonstrating various drone interception and neutralization capabilities. The IMOD will choose several technologies for accelerated development and production processes with the goal of implementing their operational capabilities immediately.
&#8220;The UAV threat is an evolving and multi-arena threat that has expanded to all our combat sectors, led by Iran and its proxies,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared. “This threat has already extracted a heavy human toll from us, which is why we have mobilized all tools to develop an effective response. The series of tests we conducted represents a national effort led by the DDR&amp;D, with participation from major defense companies alongside innovative startups. Everyone has joined the mission with the understanding that defending Israel&#8217;s skies is a top priority. Against our enemies, we are committed to continue advancing and introducing new capabilities to the battlefield in the near term. We will act to ensure maximum protection for our citizens and forces on the ground against UAVs from Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and any arena where we may be required to respond.”
Head of the DDR&amp;D, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Daniel Gold stated, “The defense establishment is determined to complete a comprehensive defensive response to the drone threat, as we have done for threats in the upper layers. We have defined an operational architecture with the IDF, including detection, tracking, and interception layers. In this series of follow-up trials, we witnessed the advancement of sophisticated drone interception capabilities, which will now enter an accelerated development process under DDR&amp;D leadership.”
IDF Head of Planning and Force Build-Up Directorate Maj. Gen. Eyal Harel added, “We are in a learning competition with the enemy, particularly in the field of UAVs, which challenges us across multiple combat zones. Throughout the war, we have developed various creative, technological, and operational solutions that have led to unprecedented achievements on the battlefield. This day has demonstrated the importance of continued technological efforts that showcase Israel&#8217;s existing technological capabilities. The synergy between the defense establishment and Israel&#8217;s technological sector serves as a force multiplier, enabling us to provide comprehensive protection for Israel&#8217;s airspace and our forces on the ground. In the coming months, we will select the most suitable capabilities and implement them extensively throughout the IDF. Much appreciation to the participating industries.”

FPV kamikaze drone at sky. Drones at war

Israel Testing Advanced Anti-Drone Technology, Working With U.S. Defense Dept

Israel

Technology

World

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a> man pleaded guilty to federal charges this week in connection with a drone that crashed into a firefighting aircraft in California earlier this month.
Peter Tripp Akemann, 56, pled guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft for &#8220;recklessly operating a drone that crashed into and damaged a Super Scooper firefighting aircraft fighting the Palisades Fire earlier this month,&#8221; the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday.
&#8220;As a result of the drone collision, the firefighting aircraft was taken out of service for a period of time and was not able to continue its firefighting mission,&#8221; prosecutors said in a statement. &#8220;As part of the plea agreement, Akemann agreed to pay full restitution to the Government of Quebec, which supplied the plane, and an aircraft repair company that repaired the plane. Akemann also agreed to complete 150 hours of community service in support of the 2025 Southern California wildfire relief effort.&#8221;
The incident happened on January 9 when Akemann flew his drone over the Palisades fire – which burned tens of thousands of acres and caused billions of dollars in damage — after he drove to the area to gather footage.
The statement continued:
<blockquote>Akemann flew the drone at least 2,500 meters (more than 1.5 miles) toward the fire and lost sight of the drone. As Akemann was flying the drone, it collided with a Government of Quebec Super Scooper carrying two crewmembers attempting to fight the blaze. The impact caused an approximately 3-inch-by-6-inch hole in the left wing. After landing, maintenance personnel identified the damage and took the aircraft out of service for repairs.
At the time of the collision, the Federal Aviation Administration had issued temporary flight restrictions that prohibited drone operations near the Los Angeles County wildfires that erupted earlier this month.
As a result of the collision, the Government of Quebec and an aircraft repair company incurred costs of at least $65,169 to repair the plane.</blockquote>
Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally said, “This defendant recklessly flew an aircraft into airspace where first responders were risking their lives in an attempt to protect lives and property.”
“This damage caused to the Super Scooper is a stark reminder that flying drones during times of emergency poses an extreme threat to personnel trying to help people and compromises the overall ability of police and fire to conduct operations,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;As this case demonstrates, we will track down drone operators who violate the law and interfere with the critical work of our first responders.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FBI Los Angeles has finally identified the Drone Operator, who was flying a DJI Drone in “Restricted Airspace” over the Pacific Palisades on January 9th, when it was struck by a Canadair CL-415 “Super Scooper” Aerial-Firefighting Aircraft, as 56-Year-Old Peter Tripp Akemann from… <a href="https://t.co/iRv36zW0um">pic.twitter.com/iRv36zW0um</a>
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1885421007533408379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote>

Palisades fire

Law Enforcement Catches Man Who Flew Drone That Damaged Firefighting Aircraft In California

California

Courts

Los Angeles

U.S.

Wildfires

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that the drones flying over the East Coast that caused a stir several weeks ago were all operating legally.
Leavitt made the remarks during her first press briefing after receiving the information from President Donald Trump in the Oval Office prior to the briefing.
&#8220;After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational, and private individuals that enjoy flying drones.&#8221;
&#8220;In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy,&#8221; she concluded.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt Reveals What The Drones Were Flying Over New Jersey" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/36QaFRZ7rmY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
One incident that raised concerns last month involved multiple unidentified drones that entered the airspace over a U.S. Navy weapons station in New Jersey.
Numerous recent sightings of “car-sized” drones over New Jersey alarmed residents and lawmakers as the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said they were investigating the phenomena. Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, New Jersey, provided a <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/multiple-drones-entered-airspace-new-jersey-naval-station/story?id=116763570">statement</a> to ABC News in mid-December that seemed to reinforce the concerns about drones flying over the state.
“While no direct threats to the installation have been identified, we can confirm multiple instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle,” Bill Addison, public affairs officer for the naval station, said in the statement. “The base remains prepared to respond to any potential risks, leveraging robust security measures and advanced detection capabilities.”
The statement did not specify when it witnessed drones flying over its airspace, and the naval base added that it “continues to closely coordinate with federal and state agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel and operations.”

Karoline Leavitt Holds First White House Press Briefing

White House Reveals New Information About Drones Flying Over New Jersey

Air and Space

Karoline Leavitt

New Jersey

Multiple unauthorized drones flew above the Palisades fire in Santa Monica, California, on Friday afternoon, forcing important firefighting aircraft to leave the area for safety, The Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/incredibly-dangerous-more-unauthorized-drones-043914110.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADfuVX9LTvTCkrvYKXFQUr71ziMLT9b2r3ZM46qkPRV-apjCPc1oNv65InftuEQT3bE16A5-fvb4OtRCtbXgPKdk7yPnxb-6lOmB7wTifw5LNgmLIUdwXMD23NIDdbD0nN_EGkB5tVycHa7JT07XmSD5NVEVhlIvO0MW0xgoPzbG" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Authorities decided to move the firefighting aircraft out of the area after a drone collided with a Super Scooper aircraft on Thursday. That plane was grounded for several days to be repaired, taking away a key asset for firefighters as the Palisades fire continues to burn. Authorities said that the drones were spotted near the southeastern portion of the fire around 4:40 p.m. on Friday, according to the Times.
“Because of safety, we have to get all the aircraft out of the area until we know the drones are gone,” said Chris Thomas, the public information officer for the Palisades fire. “So that is very dangerous, because it takes water-dropping capability away from the fire.”
“If we have to take helicopters out of an area and the wind catches one of those cinders in that area and lifts it up, we could ignite a whole other area,” Thomas added.
The Palisades fire, which has already blazed through over 22,000 acres in Los Angeles County, is only at 11% containment as of the latest update from the Cal Fire on Saturday morning. New evacuation orders were issued in Brentwood and Encino on Friday evening as the fire moved toward Mandeville Canyon, the Times <a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. At least two people have <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/01/10/los-angeles-fires-updates-california-palisades-eaton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> in the Palisades fire, while at least five people have been reported dead from the Eaton fire on L.A.&#8217;s east side.
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As the fires continue to rage in Southern California, airplanes and helicopters are vital for firefighters seeking to protect communities from the flames. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement on Thursday warning drone operators of the consequences of interfering with firefighting efforts.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,&#8221; the FAA said. &#8220;Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when temporary flight restrictions are in place.&#8221;
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said that the FBI is planning to come to the area to assist in ensuring that no more drones are endangering firefighting efforts.
“This is not just harmless fun. This is incredibly dangerous,” Thomas, the Palisades fire spokesman, added. “Seriously, what if that plane had gone down? It could have taken out a row of homes. It could have taken out a school.”

Unauthorized Drones Threaten Safety Of Firefighting Aircraft Above Palisades Fire

Airplane

Fire

Firefighter

Natural Disaster

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> said Thursday that he would release a report on the recent mystery drone sightings reported in New Jersey and other states once he takes office. 
Trump made the comments as he met with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago, prompting several to chime in with their own reports of drone sightings. Last month, the FBI, FAA, and Pentagon said they identified no threats among the 500 drone sightings they had investigated based on public tips.
&#8220;I&#8217;m going to give you a report on drones about one day into the administration because I think it&#8217;s ridiculous that they&#8217;re not telling you about what&#8217;s going on with the drones,” Trump said, noting that drones had been spotted over his property in Bedminster, New Jersey. “It’s not only with me, [Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin] was telling me today that in Virginia they have drones all over the place too and nobody is reporting it.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
PRESIDENT TRUMP: &#8220;I&#8217;m going to give you a report on drones about one day into the administration because I think it&#8217;s ridiculous that they&#8217;re not telling you about what&#8217;s going on with the drones.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/BnUBaAsBl6">pic.twitter.com/BnUBaAsBl6</a>
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1877521790920020281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump said he would issue a report on the drones “shortly” after his inauguration on January 20. 
“They don’t want to talk about it and nobody knows why,” Trump said. “That could be us sending drones, I hope that’s the case, us doing it and doing research and maybe they don’t want to talk about it from that standpoint. I hope it&#8217;s not an enemy, but we’re going to find out on the 21st.”
Referencing how much of the U.S. military and intelligence infrastructure is in Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said that drones had been flying over secure air space for the last two years. 
“For two years running we have had drone incursion over secure air space and we still don’t know why. And I think that’s absolutely unacceptable,” Youngkin said. “And I think President Trump and the new leadership coming in will work diligently to understand who’s behind this and what we do in order to stop the digital surveillance of all our secure infrastructure.”
Louisiana Republican Governor Jeff Landry said that his state had recently seen drones flying over its nuclear reactors but that the FAA had done nothing after they brought it to their attention. 
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Wyoming Republican Governor Mark Gordon added that he had also struggled to deal with drones being flown over critical infrastructure. 
“We have drones in Wyoming flying over our infrastructure as well,” he said. “And it&#8217;s incredibly frustrating that we not only have no way of knowing what it is, but nobody knows how to deal with them.”

President-Elect Trump Meets With Republican Governors At Mar-A-Lago

Trump Promises To Release Report On Mystery Drones After Taking Office

Glenn Youngkin

Jeff Landry

Louisiana

Mar-a-Lago

National Security

Virginia

Wyoming

From November heading into December of 2024, mysterious &#8220;car-sized&#8221; drone sightings became a major news story.
While there had been suspected drones at night in places across the United States, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey</a> in particular became a focal point due to a high concentration of reported sightings in the state.
Here are six things to know about the situation:
What is going on?
Sightings of suspected drones have been reported in the night skies near military sites, critical infrastructure, President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>&#8216;s <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/drones-new-jersey-trump-bedminster-golf-course-fbi-20241206.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">golf club</a> in Bedminster, New Jersey, and elsewhere.
Videos of suspected drones posted all over social media and a lack of convincing answers fueled concerns.
Stranger things
Following a briefing on the situation at New Jersey State Police HQ, New Jersey Republican Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia <a href="https://x.com/DawnFantasia_NJ/status/1866896860578717994" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> a few stunning details.
The &#8220;large&#8221; drones were said to be 6 feet in diameter, operated in a coordinated manner, and appeared to avoid &#8220;traditional methods&#8221; of detection by helicopters and radio frequencies, Fantasias said.
Shoot them down?
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-congressman-sources-claim-mystery-drones-over-new-jersey-come-from-mothership-sent-by-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> “qualified sources” told him drones were coming from an Iranian “mothership” off the coast, suggested one should be shot down and studied.
Trump also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/let-the-public-know-and-now-trump-speaks-out-on-mystery-drone-sightings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> the idea of blasting one of the suspected drones out of the air if the government did not open up about what it knows to the American public.
Feds investigate
The FBI <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2024/12/14/background-press-call-on-the-ongoing-response-to-reported-drone-sightings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it has received thousands of tips, though most were not deemed worthy of further investigation, and officials stressed how there are roughly 1 million drones <a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/national/military-news/department-of-defense-says-drones-flying-near-restricted-air-spaces-are-not-theirs/291-65fa9eb3-57ab-4cae-a1ea-d86ccf63538d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">registered</a> in the United States.
Federal authorities have insisted they have no evidence to suggest the sightings pose a threat or have a &#8220;foreign nexus.&#8221; They also said many of the sightings are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dhs-fbi-release-statement-about-drone-sightings-in-new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">believed</a> to be manned aircraft operating lawfully.
Advanced tech deployed
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent New Jersey State Police a &#8220;drone-specific radar that also cues a highly capable EO/IR, or electro-optical infrared camera system,&#8221; a DHS official <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2024/12/14/background-press-call-on-the-ongoing-response-to-reported-drone-sightings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters.
&#8220;If the radar detects a drone, the camera will be able to identify and track it,&#8221; the official said, adding, &#8220;This is extremely helpful for drones without a standard radio frequency signal.&#8221;
Flight restrictions
One week before Christmas, the Federal Aviation Administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/faa-imposes-restrictions-on-drones-over-parts-of-new-jersey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">implemented</a> a new round of temporary restrictions on drone activity over &#8220;critical&#8221; infrastructure in parts of New Jersey.
According to DHS, the decision was made &#8220;out of an abundance of caution.&#8221;

Drone

Six Things To Know About The New Jersey Drone Mystery

An Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed on Christmas, killing dozens of people, was shot down by Russian antiaircraft fire, according to an investigation.
An investigation by Azerbaijan indicated that the plane was &#8220;hit by a Russian antiaircraft missile, or shrapnel from it,&#8221; The Wall Street Journal reported. Separate aviation experts said that there was visible evidence that the plane had been hit by a munition.
The flight from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, was headed for Grozny, Russia when it &#8220;suddenly diverted course when flying over a part of Russia where the military had been shooting down Ukrainian drones,&#8221; the report said. &#8220;The plane went down in western Kazakhstan near the Caspian Sea city of Aktau.&#8221;
Sources familiar with the investigation told The Journal that Russia refused to allow the plane to land on its soil and that Russia intentionally jammed the plane&#8217;s GPS.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
This is a full length video of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan. What the hell happened? <a href="https://t.co/7CL6SwMne8">pic.twitter.com/7CL6SwMne8</a>
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) <a href="https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1871938369086959783?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
Of the 62 passengers and five crew members who were on board, 38 were killed and 29 survived — many of whom are in critical condition.
Those who survived said they heard a loud explosion that happened before the flight started having problems.
“Everyone heard the explosion,” said Subkhonkul Rakhimov, who survived the crash, in an interview with RT.
Russia’s Federal Air Traffic Agency claimed that the plane hit a flock of birds.
WSJ Chief Foreign-Affairs Correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov highlighted a report from an Azerbaijani publication that highlighted how Russia turned the aircraft out of its airspace and what Azerbaijani officials believe the reason was:
<blockquote>As is known, the Grozny airport refused to allow the aircraft to land. Moreover, the Azerbaijani aircraft was also denied landing permissions at the airports in Makhachkala and Mineralnye Vody. The disoriented crew, subjected to air defence fire and electronic warfare (EW) systems, was redirected to the Kazakh city of Aktau. It can be assumed that this recommendation was given with one goal: to have the aircraft crash into the Caspian Sea, where all witnesses would perish and the aircraft would sink.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Kill and hide. Azerbaijani officials tell local media that Russia hit flight J2-8243 with an anti-aircraft missile and then jammed electronics and denied permission to land in three airports, steering the damaged plane into the Caspian Sea so that it would crash there and… <a href="https://t.co/BuXePAteTJ">pic.twitter.com/BuXePAteTJ</a>
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) <a href="https://twitter.com/yarotrof/status/1872277323254268292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
Zaur Shiriyev, a Baku-based nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said that Azerbaijan expects &#8220;not only an apology but also an explanation as to why the pilots’ request to land was denied and why their GPS was jammed over the Caspian Sea—both of which could have saved the plane and its passengers.&#8221;
An Azerbaijan official <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/azerbaijan-airlines-flight-was-downed-by-russian-air-defence-system-four-sources-2024-12-26/">told</a> Reuters that no one believes that the aircraft was intentionally shot down but they do expect Russia to confess to what happened.
Sources told the publication that they believe a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system is what shot the plane down.
A U.S. official said that preliminary findings from the investigation showed that there were signs that the plane was hit by a Russian anti-aircraft system.
The incident was similar to a 2014 incident when Russia-backed separatists shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine, killing 298 people.

CORRECTION / KAZAKHSTAN-PLANE-CRASH

Dozens Killed After Russia Shoots Down Passenger Jet: Report

Ukraine-Russia War

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/federal-aviation-administration-faa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Aviation Administration</a> (FAA) announced on Thursday that it was instituting new restrictions on drone activity over parts of New Jersey.
The announcement comes as the federal government has botched responding to news reports about public sightings of late-night drones that have spooked some local residents and caused a wide range of theories to be floated online about what was happening.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, “In coordination with the FAA and our critical infrastructure partners who requested temporary flight restrictions over their facilities, out of an abundance of caution, the FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions over some critical infrastructure facilities in New Jersey.”
The agency published 22 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical New Jersey infrastructure.
The restrictions were imposed on drones operating from ground-level up to 400 feet above ground — the maximum height that civilians are supposed to fly their drones.
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The restrictions ban drones from being flown over power stations and other infrastructure, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/19/us/faa-restricts-drones-power-locations-new-jersey?Date=20241219&amp;Profile=CNN&amp;utm_content=1734633335&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The power stations include the Cedar Grove Switching Station, Athenia Switching Station, Hudson Switching Station, PSE&amp;G Kearny Switching Station, and Bayonne Switching Station.
The ban only applies to drones and no other types of aircraft.
Drone flight restrictions were implemented late last month over Trump&#8217;s golf course in Bedminster and Picatinny Arsenal — a U.S. military research facility.
Federal law enforcement officials and the U.S. military released a detailed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-u-s-military-release-statement-assessing-what-people-are-seeing-with-drone-sightings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Monday night saying that after an extensive investigation, the mysterious drone sightings that people have seen on the East Coast do not amount to anything nefarious, nor is there any threat to the public.
“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” the statement said. “We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast.”
They said that the FBI alone has received more than 5,000 tips over the last few weeks, which has generated approximately 100 leads that authorities have investigated.
“We continue to support state and local authorities with advanced detection technology and support of law enforcement,” the statement said. “We urge Congress to enact counter-UAS legislation when it reconvenes that would extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threat that may emerge.”
They added that drone sightings near U.S. military facilities, while concerning, are not a new phenomenon and that the Department of Defense “takes unauthorized access over its airspace seriously and coordinates closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, as appropriate.”
“Local commanders are actively engaged to ensure there are appropriate detection and mitigation measures in place,” the statement added.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/drone-fears-cause-new-problem-people-shining-lasers-at-manned-aircraft">Drone Fears Cause New Problem: People Shining Lasers At Manned Aircraft</a>

Hylio Drones

FAA Imposes Restrictions On Drones Over Parts Of New Jersey

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

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President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> said Tuesday that there was “apparently” nothing “nefarious” about the mystery drones spotted throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S., saying his administration was watching the situation closely. 
Biden spoke to reporters at the White House about the drones, suggesting that some were being flown by hobbyists. His comments come as lawmakers and the public demand answers about sightings reported over New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and other states. 
“Nothing nefarious, apparently, but they&#8217;re checking it all out,&#8221; he said, <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/12/18/us-news/biden-insists-drones-pose-no-sense-of-danger-in-first-comments-on-mysterious-sightings/">according</a> to the New York Post. &#8220;We’re following it closely. So far, no sense of danger.”
“There’s a lot of drones authorized up there,” Biden added. “I think one started it and they all — everybody wanted to get in the deal.&#8221;
Biden’s comments came after Major General Pat Ryder <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-18/mysterious-drone-flights-have-no-pentagon-connection-us-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters that the drones were not part of a government test, as some have speculated. Ryder said there were many legitimate reasons for drones to be in the air. 
“Is it possible that some of those drones could be up to malign activity? It’s entirely possible, but the vast majority, that is not the case,” Ryder added, according to Bloomberg. 
On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA, and Department of Defense <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-u-s-military-release-statement-assessing-what-people-are-seeing-with-drone-sightings?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=email&amp;utm_content=newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> a joint statement saying they had not detected any threats to the public.
“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” the statement said. “We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast.”
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President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that the federal government has not been forthcoming in telling the public what is going on. 
“The government knows what is happening,” he said. “Look, our military knows where they took off from — if it’s a garage, they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went, and for some reason they don’t want to comment.&#8221;
“And I think they’d be better off saying what it is. Our military knows and our president knows. And for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense,” Trump added.

President Biden Departs White House For Delaware

Biden Says There Is ‘Apparently’ Nothing ‘Nefarious’ About Mystery Drones

Joe Biden

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