Hegseth shared Yemen strike plans in private Signal chats

Monday 21 April 2025 - 10:37

By: Zahouani Ilham

Hegseth shared Yemen strike plans in private Signal chats

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is again facing scrutiny after reportedly sharing sensitive military information about planned airstrikes in Yemen through a second private Signal chat. According to reports from The New York Times and CNN, this group included his wife, brother, and personal attorney.

This revelation comes after a previous controversy where Hegseth had mistakenly included a journalist in another Signal group chat, where he also discussed airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels.

In the second chat, sources say Hegseth shared details like the F/A-18 Hornet flight schedules intended for Yemen operations. The group was reportedly formed before his confirmation as defense secretary and included close personal and professional associates. While his brother and lawyer are part of the Defense Department, his wife Jennifer a former Fox News producer holds no official role.

Responding to the latest reports, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the issue, calling it an outdated story revived by media critical of President Donald Trump. He claimed no classified information was shared and accused disgruntled former staff of attempting to undermine the defense secretary and the administration.

The Pentagon's acting inspector general is already investigating the earlier leak, which involved senior officials including Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.

Meanwhile, Hegseth’s leadership is under further strain following the departure of four key aides last week, including former press secretary John Ullyot. In an opinion piece, Ullyot described the Pentagon as being in disarray under Hegseth. Other former staff also released a joint statement defending their records and criticizing what they described as baseless accusations and lack of transparency regarding their dismissal.