160

In a significant security breach, several high-ranking Trump-era officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, unintentionally shared sensitive military plans over a Signal group chat. Among the participants in the chat was The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.

The leaked messages reportedly contained details on upcoming military strikes in Yemen targeting Iran-backed Houthi forces. The plans included specific information on strike sequences, UK involvement, and the types of weapons to be used.

Investigation Launched into the Breach

The U.S. National Security Council has confirmed the legitimacy of the leaked messages and has opened an investigation into the incident. The breach raises concerns about the security of communications among top officials, as the information shared could have significant consequences for national security.

Strikes Followed the Leak Within Hours

Just two hours after Jeffrey Goldberg, who is a participant in the chat, saw the leaked information on March 15, the UK launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. While it is still unclear whether the information was officially classified, the details shared were clearly operational, which is typically safeguarded for security reasons.

Since November 2023, the UK has been involved in military responses to Houthi threats in the Red Sea, specifically aiming to protect international shipping routes from Houthi missile attacks and other aggressive actions.

Leak Contradicts Tightened Security Measures

The timing of the leak is particularly concerning given the recent efforts by Hegseth’s office to tighten controls on information sharing. These measures include the possibility of using lie detector tests to identify leakers and prevent future breaches. Despite these efforts, the fact that such sensitive information was shared via an unsecure platform like Signal is raising alarm among security experts.

Although Signal is known for its encryption capabilities, it is not considered a secure platform for sharing classified military or national security information. Officials are questioning how a journalist, in this case, Goldberg, was added to the chat, and why such sensitive details were not more carefully protected.

So far, Hegseth’s office has declined to comment on the breach, and it remains to be seen what actions will be taken to address the situation and prevent further leaks of classified information.