Did Pentagon chief's private chat jeopardize US strategy in Yemen?

A major controversy has erupted in Washington after reports surfaced that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth allegedly shared classified military information about planned strikes in Yemen through private messaging apps.

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According to The New York Times, Hegseth disclosed sensitive operational details just before the March 15 attacks—not only with senior officials in the Trump administration but also with personal contacts including his wife, brother, and personal lawyer.

The revelations are prompting alarm within national security circles and raising serious concerns about how digital communication platforms are being used at the highest levels of government.

THE SIGNAL GROUP

The initial chat in question was a Signal messaging group created by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. While intended for top-level communication among Trump allies, the group's membership reportedly included non-government individuals, such as Hegseth's family members and, in an apparent mistake, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.

The inclusion of such individuals in discussions about military operations had already raised eyebrows.

The situation escalated when a second, more private chat group—titled "Defense | Team Huddle"—was uncovered.

Created and operated by Hegseth on his personal phone, this group reportedly included even more non-official members.