Early Sunday morning, the US military shot down its fourth unidentified flying object in North American airspace this month, in the latest of a series of mysterious sightings near US military sites. The object, described as an "octagonal structure" with strings attached to it, was destroyed over Lake Huron in Michigan by an F-16 fighter jet.

Gen Glen VanHerck, responsible for safeguarding US airspace, commented that the military had not yet been able to identify the three most recent objects and could not explain how they remained aloft or where they originated. However, their presence near US military sites warranted the caution of destruction. Earlier this month, the US destroyed a surveillance balloon over South Carolina, of Chinese origin. Soon after, China responded by accusing the US of operating high-altitude balloons in Chinese airspace without permission.

The US said it took no chances with the latest unidentified objects and swiftly shot them