Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

Surge in aerial discoveries due to radar systems re-calibration: WH

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Feb 2023 19:35
3 Min Read

US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby admit that the US could not ascertain that objects in its airspace are for surveillance purposes.

  • x
  • Kirby: surge in aerial discoveries due to radar systems re-calibration
    In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, conduct pre-dive checks during recovery efforts for debris from a Chinese high altitude balloon in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 7, 2023 (Ryan Seelbach/U.S. Navy via AP)

Increased detection of balloons and various aerial objects has been due to the re-calibration of military radar systems following the discovery of the first Chinese "spy balloon" in its airspace said White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Tuesday in an interview with ABC.

"Because of the spy balloon, we’ve changed some of the radar parameters for our air defense capabilities, particularly over the northern part of our atmosphere. And it is possible that in part because of tweaking the radars’ sensitivity, we’re simply seeing more objects right now," Kirby said.

However, Kirby did admit that the US government could not ascertain the objects discovered in its airspace were surveillance aircraft but rather he argued that "they could be from a nation-state, they could be from commercial entities, research, scientific institutions, we just don't know."

US President Joe Biden's administration, according to Kirby, has been closely examining the "Chinese spy balloon program" since coming into office.

“This is the program they have been working on for seven years," adding "So they have ramped up their abilities, they have ramped up their deployment of these balloons over just recent years," Kirby said.

Read more: US sent 'weather' balloons to spy on China, USSR in 1950s

Related News

Taiwan claims another eight Chinese balloons detected around island

China slams US claims of espionage as 'complete slander'

US intelligence: Chinese balloon, among many more, part of aerial spy program

Earlier, on February 8, the US intelligence, The Washington Post reported citing several US officials, that it believed that the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, which has been shot down by the US military, was part of a vast surveillance program of China's People's Liberation Army.

The Washington Post reported that the US intel suspects the Chinese balloon was one of many meant to collect sensitive military information from Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

According to officials, balloons belonging to China have been located over five continents.

"What the Chinese have done is taken an unbelievably old technology, and basically married it with modern communications and observation capabilities" to try to glean intelligence on other nations’ militaries... It’s a massive effort," one of the officials said.  

Officials also relayed that allies the US believed to be a target of the alleged 'spy’ balloon have been contacted as well. It was reported by US media, quoting a senior administration official that a briefing was conducted by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on the matter for around 40 embassies on February 6.

"There has been great interest in this on the part of our allies and partners... Many of them recognize that they, too, may be vulnerable or susceptible to this or an object of interest to the PRC [the People's Republic of China]," the cited official said.  

Read more: US 'balloons' flew 10 times over China since last year: FM spox

  • Chinese balloon
  • US National Security Council
  • US
  • China
  • John Kirby

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS