For weeks, mysterious drones have been observed in the night skies above New Jersey, leaving residents and officials baffled and searching for answers. The lack of clarity surrounding these sightings has fueled public speculation and raised concerns about potential security risks.

While the Pentagon has dismissed suggestions of foreign involvement, specifically denying any connection to Iran, the FBI has expressed concern over the unknown nature of the drones. Robert Wheeler, FBI assistant director of the Critical Incident Response Group, acknowledged the uncertainty, stating, "We just don't know. And that's the concerning part." The FBI has even suggested the sightings may not be drones at all, but rather misidentified manned aircraft. However, they continue to investigate and deploy resources to determine the truth.

The drones' proximity to sensitive locations, including a military research facility, has heightened anxieties. Experts like Doug Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, point to outdated detection systems as a possible reason for the difficulty in identifying the drones and their operators. Birkey also expressed skepticism about the Pentagon's dismissal of foreign involvement, given the drones' apparent sophistication.

Photos taken in Toms River, New Jersey, appear to show large drones hovering at high altitudes. (Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press)

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has downplayed any public safety threat. However, New Jersey state Rep. Dawn Fantasia, after receiving a law enforcement briefing, described the drones as six feet in diameter, flying in a coordinated manner with their lights off, and seemingly designed to avoid detection. She has called for military intervention, stating, "At this point, I believe military intervention is the only path forward. There will be no answers in the absence of proactivity."

This isn't the first incident of unidentified drones near U.S. military sites. Last year, drones were observed near Langley Air Force Base for over two weeks without explanation. Similarly, a Chinese spy balloon traversed the U.S. before being shot down. The lack of consequences for these intrusions has raised concerns about potential escalation.

Additional photos from Toms River, New Jersey. (Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press)

Multiple drones sighted over Bernardsville, New Jersey. (Brian Glenn/TMX/AP)

Pramod Abichandani, a drone expert and associate professor at NJIT, highlighted the drones' violation of FAA regulations, noting their nighttime flights over populated areas and their coordinated movements. The ongoing investigation, with assistance from the FBI and local law enforcement, continues to seek answers and identify those responsible.