Hegseth Denies Sharing Yemen War Plans, Critiques Journalist Reporting
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth denied allegations of sharing classified Yemen war plans, criticizing the journalist who reported it as deceitful. Jeffrey Goldberg reported being part of a sensitive message chain discussing air strikes. The National Security Council confirmed the chain’s authenticity, prompting an investigation into how a number was added. The conflict with the Houthis poses serious implications for U.S. national security.
On March 24, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth denied allegations that top White House officials disclosed classified war plans concerning military operations against the Houthis in Yemen to a journalist. These claims emerged following President Donald Trump’s announcement of air strikes on March 15.
Upon his arrival at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam in Oahu, Hegseth addressed the media, labeling the journalist involved as “deceitful” for spreading what he described as hoaxes. He maintained that no one was engaged in texting detailed war plans, dismissing the severity of the accusations.
In response to inquiries about the sharing of sensitive information via the Signal messaging application and the revelation of the journalist’s access to targets, Hegseth expressed, “I’ve heard that was characterised; nobody was texting war plans. And that’s all I have to say about that.”
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported participating in a text chain on Signal where discussions about the air strikes in Yemen and other national security matters took place. Goldberg mentioned being invited to a group called the “Houthi PC small group” on March 13, where plans were coordinated for U.S. actions against the Houthis.
A spokesperson from the National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the message chain and noted an investigation into how an unexpected number was included in the conversation. Spokesperson Brian Hughes stated, “The message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.”
President Trump has initiated extensive military operations against the Houthis due to their assaults on maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Goldberg reported that Hegseth communicated information, including timelines, for the impending strikes, with plans detailing that the first explosions would occur at 1:45 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Houthi rebels have conducted numerous drone and missile strikes targeting maritime vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, proclaiming solidarity with Palestinians during the conflict in Gaza. They have exercised control over substantial areas of Yemen for over a decade.
In conclusion, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has refuted claims of sharing classified war plans regarding Yemen, condemning the journalist involved as deceitful. The situation escalated with allegations from Jeffrey Goldberg about discussions held on Signal concerning military operations. The National Security Council has confirmed the authenticity of the message thread, noting an inadvertent inclusion of numbers. The ongoing conflict with the Houthis remains a significant concern for U.S. national security interests.
Original Source: www.wionews.com
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