Pete Hegseth denies claims by Jeffrey Goldberg that sensitive military plans regarding Yemen were shared with him. Goldberg reported that Hegseth detailed strike plans in a group chat. While Hegseth refutes the claims, the White House has confirmed the authenticity of the chat and is investigating how Goldberg was added.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refuted claims made by Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, which suggested that sensitive military plans regarding actions against the Houthis in Yemen were inadvertently disclosed to him. Goldberg mentioned being included in a group chat on the messaging platform Signal that comprised various high-ranking officials from the Trump administration, including Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, totaling eighteen participants.

In his report, Goldberg asserted that concerns regarding the Yemen strategy were raised by Vance, while Hegseth presented a comprehensive outline for the military strike, detailing the targets, weapons, and operational timing. Goldberg indicated that the strikes were executed precisely at 1:45 PM ET as planned, prompting significant backlash in Washington, D.C., from both Republican and Democratic leaders over potential security breaches.

Hegseth criticized Goldberg, labeling him a “deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist,” while defending the military operation, asserting, “We will ultimately decimate the Houthis.” When asked if war plans were communicated via text, Hegseth firmly stated, “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.”

Conversely, the White House has maintained a contrasting position. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the text thread while indicating that an inadvertent addition to the group is under review. 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. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security.”

In summary, the dispute between Pete Hegseth and Jeffrey Goldberg centers around the alleged sharing of sensitive Yemen war plans. Hegseth denies any breach of protocol, labeling Goldberg’s assertions as deceitful. In contrast, the White House has acknowledged the authenticity of the text thread, indicating that an internal review is ongoing. This situation underscores broader concerns regarding military transparency and national security protocols.

Original Source: www.timesnownews.com

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