The head of the Democratic Party in the US Senate has demanded a “thorough investigation” following the White House’s confirmation that a journalist was part of a group chat where US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other high-ranking officials talked about impending strikes against Yemen’s Houthi group.
On 15 March, US President Donald Trump announced military strikes, but in a surprising lapse in security, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed he had received hours of advance information through the group chat on Signal.
According to Yemeni health officials, the US airstrikes resulted in 53 fatalities and left 98 others injured.
“The message thread that has been reported appears to be authentic, and we are currently determining how an unintended participant was added to the chain,” stated Brian Hughes, spokesman for the National Security Council.
Mr. Goldberg noted that the substantial text from Hegseth indicated that the initial explosions in Yemen would be felt two hours later, at 1:45 PM Eastern Time, a timeline that proved to be accurate on the ground in Yemen.
Jeffrey Goldberg was part of a group chat concerning US strikes on Yemen prior to their execution.
Mr. Goldberg mentioned that he was included in the group chat two days prior and received updates from other senior government officials designating representatives to address the situation.
On 14 March, an individual identified as Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism about the airstrikes, stating he disliked “bailing Europe out again,” as European nations were more adversely impacted by the Houthi attacks on shipping compared to the United States.
Participants in the chat, identified as National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Mr. Hegseth, both conveyed messages asserting that only the US possessed the capability to execute the mission, with Hegseth indicating he shared Mr. Vance’s “discontent with European freeloading.”
Additionally, an individual dubbed “S M” — likely Trump adviser Stephen Miller — contended that “if the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at significant cost, there must be some economic benefit gained in return.”
Officials ‘committed a crime’
The security breach elicited indignation among Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who condemned the unintentional revelation of the Pentagon war plan.
“This is one of the most remarkable breaches of military intelligence that I have encountered in a very long time,” Mr. Schumer remarked.
“This incident demands a comprehensive investigation into how it transpired.”
Mr. Trump has claimed ignorance regarding the security slip.
“I don’t know anything about it,” Mr. Trump told reporters when inquired about the incident earlier today. “This is the first time I’ve heard about it.”
In a statement released this evening, the White House affirmed that Mr. Trump continues to support his national security team, despite the error.
“President Trump maintains full confidence in his national security team, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated.
The Houthis, who have dominated much of Yemen for over a decade, are aligned with the “axis of resistance,” a coalition of pro-Iran groups that are firmly opposed to both Israel and the United States.
During the Gaza conflict, the Houthis have conducted numerous drone and missile strikes against vessels traversing Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, showing solidarity with the Palestinians.
The Houthis’ offensive has disrupted this critical supply route, which normally accommodates about 12% of global shipping traffic, forcing many companies to take an expensive detour around southern Africa.
The US commenced targeting the Houthis in response under the prior administration of former President Joe Biden and has executed multiple rounds of strikes on Houthi positions, some with British collaboration.
Mr. Trump has pledged to “employ overwhelming lethal force until our objective is achieved,” referencing the Houthis’ threats against Red Sea shipping, and US strikes have persisted over the last ten days.
