Why does the U.S. keep shooting down UFOs?

IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF FEBRUARY, THE U.S. Air Force shot down four flying objects that had intruded on the skies over North America, a deployment of force unprecedented during peacetime.

- SANYA MANSOOR

The first object shot down, on Feb. 4, was a Chinese balloon that the Biden Administration says was part of a yearslong scheme to spy on nations across the earth. But so far, officials have been much less detailed about what the other objects are. One shot down over Alaska on Feb. 10 was described as a “car-sized object” that did not appear to have a propulsion source. One downed over Canada on Feb. 11 was described as “cylindrical,” potentially a balloon, but smaller than the Chinese one. And it was not immediately clear what was shot down Feb. 12 over Lake Huron in Michigan.