Mysterious drone sightings across New Jersey have caused weeks of unease among residents, with officials offering no concrete explanations. Former CIA operations officer Laura Ballman, speaking on "Fox News Live," described the situation as "extremely unsettling" and suggested the drones might be part of a classified U.S. operation. She pointed to National Security spokesman John Kirby's statement that the drones aren't operating illegally, along with recent articles discussing the need to evaluate detection systems. This, Ballman argues, hints at the possibility of an exercise to test evasion or detection technologies in urban environments.

Ballman dismissed the idea of CIA involvement, stating it's outside their jurisdiction to operate domestically. She expressed concern over the government's lack of transparency regarding the drones' origin and purpose.

Drone density map in Monmouth County, New Jersey (Courtesy: Monmouth County Sheriff's Office)

In a recent press briefing, national security officials attempted to alleviate public anxieties about the drones spotted over the Northeast. One official even characterized the widespread concern as an "overreaction." Representatives from the FBI, FAA, NSC, DHS, and DOD participated in the call, but remained guarded about the drones' source, stating that investigations are ongoing. These unidentified aircraft were initially observed over northern New Jersey in mid-November and have been sighted numerous times since.

Map of drone sightings in the Northeastern USA (Fox News)

An FBI official revealed they've received 5,000 tips since the initial sighting, with less than 100 requiring further investigation. Despite increased drone activity, the official stated there's no indication of large-scale unauthorized drone operations. While efforts to pinpoint the source of the drone activity continue, officials maintain that the public's reaction has been disproportionate to the actual threat.

Photo of potential drones in the New Jersey sky (Paul Kanitra / "Fox News @ Night")

A DHS official concurred, suggesting that while reports of drone activity are taken seriously, the actual number of drones is likely lower than perceived.

Contribution by Fox News' Andrea Margolis. Report by Anders Hagstrom, Fox News Digital.