FACT CHECK: Claim That US Military Shot Down Drones Over Camp Pendleton Is Satire

A post shared on Facebook claims the U.S. military purportedly shot down drones over Camp Pendleton.

Verdict: False

The claim is false and originally stems from a Dec. 22 article published on the satire site “Real Raw News.”

Fact Check:

Drones have continued to be spotted across the eastern U.S., including in New Jersey, according to The Associated Press. Federal and state agencies are investigating the drone sightings but have not deemed them a national security threat thus far, the outlet reported.

The Facebook post claims the U.S. military purportedly shot down drones over Camp Pendleton. According to the same post, the drones were purportedly spotted on Dec. 14 by guards stationed at Camp Pendleton’s Fallbrook and Las Pulgas Gates along Interstate 15. The drones moved but later returned and were seen above the Naval Weapons Center at Camp Pendleton before they were destroyed by an AH-1Z Viper gunship, the post further claims.

The claim is false and originally stems from a Dec. 22 article published on the satire site “Real Raw News.” A “Disclaimer” included on the site’s “About Us” page indicates its content is not meant to be taken literally. “Information on this website is for informational and educational and entertainment purposes. This website contains humor, parody, and satire. We have included this disclaimer for our protection, on the advice [of] legal counsel,” the disclaimer reads. (RELATED: Video Of Drones Is Not Recent, Shows China In 2022)

Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find the claim referenced on the website for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) or its verified social media accounts. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) also does not appear to have publicly commented on the claim. President Joe Biden has not publicly discussed the claim, either. In addition, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim.

Although the claim is false, drones were spotted over Camp Pendleton between Dec. 9 and 15, according to Fox News. The drones “did not pose any threat to military installations,” the outlet reported, citing a base spokesperson.

Check Your Fact has contacted the USMC for comment.