Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed crucial details of impending airstrikes on Yemen in a private Signal group chat, mistakenly including an Atlantic editor, sparking concerns over the potential violation of national security laws.
Security Breach: U.S. Defense Secretary Reveals Yemen Strike Plans in Group Chat
Security Breach: U.S. Defense Secretary Reveals Yemen Strike Plans in Group Chat
A major security lapse occurred when U.S. officials discussed sensitive military operations in a chat that included a journalist.
U.S. officials are reeling from a significant security breach involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who inadvertently disclosed plans to strike Yemen during a group chat on the Signal messaging app. The incident occurred just two hours prior to military engagements against Houthi militia targets, as confirmed by the White House.
This breach arose when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly added to the chat by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, which took place outside the secure government communication channels typically reserved for sensitive military operations. Defense Department officials expressed disbelief that such critical war plans could be shared in a commercial chat app, which they indicated could potentially contravene the Espionage Act, a law designed to safeguard classified information.
Documents show that at 11:44 a.m. on March 15, Hegseth published operational specifics regarding imminent strikes in Yemen, including target details and operational sequences. Goldberg highlighted that if this information were to be intercepted by hostile parties, it could jeopardize U.S. military and intelligence personnel throughout the Middle East.
Vice President JD Vance, who was also in the chat, conveyed reservations regarding the strikes, emphasizing that European nations profit from U.S. interventions that aim to secure shipping routes from Houthi threats. Hegseth enthusiastically agreed with Vance's sentiment, sharing in the disdain for perceived European dependency on U.S. military support.
In related news, the Trump administration is also grappling with multiple policy decisions, ranging from imposing tariffs on nations purchasing oil from Venezuela to high-stakes legal challenges regarding the hiring of federal employees and deporting immigrants linked to criminal gangs. Meanwhile, international relations continue to fluctuate, as highlighted by a recent uninvited U.S. delegation trip to Greenland that could further entwine the island’s ties with Denmark.
