Unidentified drones flying over the US: what are these objects and why are they not being shot down

President-elect Donald Trump has already reacted.

For almost a month, mysterious drones have been observed flying in the US. They are causing fear among residents and a furious debate about what flying objects really are &rdash; and whether they are drones at all, writes the BBC.

The authorities were unable to give a definitive answer, stating only that the objects are not considered to pose a danger to the public or national security.

On Thursday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that available images indicate that many of the reported drone sightings are in fact manned aircraft.

But some lawmakers are criticizing the government for the lack of information available to the public and its carelessness in dealing with the mysterious drones.

US President-elect Donald Trump has already called for them to be shot down.

“Mysterious drones all over the country. Can this really be happening without our government knowing? I don't think so! Let the public know, and immediately. Otherwise – shoot them down!”, – he wrote on his social network Truth Social.

The UAVs, which are much larger than typical commercial drones, are mostly seen by New Jersey residents at night. Several drones were also spotted over the Bronx in New York, and were also seen in Connecticut, Virginia, and Maryland.

In late November, the US Air Force confirmed that unidentified drones had been spotted over three US air bases in the UK: RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk.

British defense sources told the BBC that they suspected a “state actor responsible for the intrusion” of the activity.

In October, the Wall Street Journal also reported that mysterious drones had been seen near US military installations in Virginia for 17 days.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement saying that more people were seeing drones in the sky as their use became more popular. 

It stressed that,  that no cases were recorded in closed airspace and also denied that these drones pose a threat to national security.

A number of congressmen suggest that China or Iran are behind the launch of the drones. However, the Pentagon and the White House insist that these objects are not of foreign origin. 

The congressmen also propose shooting down and analyzing these UAVs to determine their origin and intentions.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy sent a letter to President Joe Biden on December 13, urging federal agencies to “work together to solve this mystery,” and also asked Congress to give local law enforcement the authority to combat drones.

Some residents have said they could take action against the drones themselves. However, authorities are currently strongly warning against this, insisting that it is illegal.