David Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, ominously told reporters that the US has many secrets it needs to protect from external threats. The admission came when Mr Goldfein addressed the recent ‘Storm Area 51’ event that swept across social media.
Talking of the event, Mr Goldfein said: “All joking aside, we’re taking it very seriously.
“Our nation has secrets, and those secrets deserve to be protected. The people deserve to have our nation’s secrets protected.”
His comments will likely result in a flurry of conspiracy theorists confirming that Area 51 is indeed home to otherworldly technology.
Also fanning the flames of conspiracy theorists was the confession by a US Navy official that videos showing encounters between US Navy aircraft and UFOs are real.
Three widely circulated clips depicting military aircraft interacting with UFOs were released.
The videos went into detail on the various settings and modes of film that apparently proved the sightings to be extraterrestrial.
The objects were seen carrying out manoeuvres not possible for existing aviation technology.
Further, the Navy’s Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare spokesman Joseph Gradisher told the Black Vault that the videos were never supposed to be released to the public.
JUST IN: UFO sighting: NASA ‘investigation’ as ‘silver flying saucer’ spotted
Matt Donovan, acting secretary of the US Air Force revealed that the base has had its security beefed up ahead of the event.
He said: “There’s still a lot of media attention out in Las Vegas, so they expect that some folks that are going to show up there.
“We’re prepared. We have provided them with additional security personnel as well as additional barricades and that sort of thing, because, as the chief said: We’re taking it very seriously.”
Last week, two Dutch YouTubers were arrested after they entered a secure US government area in the Nevada desert while in search of Area 51.
Ties Granzier, 20, and Govert Charles Wilhelmus Jacob Sweep, 21 were picked up by police after they were found filming around three miles inside the Nevada National Security Site, approximately 10 miles from Area 51.
Area 51 is located in the middle of the Nevada desert, about 83 miles north of Las Vegas.
It has been the focal point of conspiracy theorists, films and TV shows for several decades.
Many claim that the site is home to extraterrestrial technology and life, with others going further and claiming the US regularly exports alien life form form the base out into the public.
The CIA only officially recognised its existence in 2013, despite it having been used as a top-secret test site in the 20th century.
Aircrafts such as the U-2 reconnaissance and B2 stealth bomber have been piloted there, both of which have led to many claimed sightings but later turned out to be undisclosed Us aircraft.
The sites current function remains a mystery, leading many to speculate that it contains things the US Government wants to keep under wraps.