Leaked Signal Chats Expose U.S. Military Plans Against Houthis in Yemen
The Atlantic published leaked chats revealing U.S. plans for attacks on Houthis in Yemen, mistakenly involving journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a sensitive military group. The discussions included real-time updates from officials like Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Despite the incident being downplayed by President Trump, it prompted concerns and calls for a Justice Department probe by senior Democrats.
On March 15, 2023, The Atlantic, through an article by Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed leaked chats from a 19-member Signal group discussing U.S. attack plans against Houthi targets in Yemen. This significant breach occurred when Mr. Goldberg was mistakenly added to the sensitive group that included high-ranking Trump administration officials, such as Vice President JD Vance and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. The incident prompted President Donald Trump to label it a minor glitch, asserting it was not a serious lapse in security.
The discussions, which began at 9:14 PM IST, covered the rationale behind the military operation and provided real-time updates on airstrikes. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth played a key role in the chats, sharing live updates on the strike timeline while assuring group members about operational security (OPSEC), despite inadvertently discussing sensitive plans. Notably, Hegseth had also expressed concerns over the military action to be taken against the Houthis.
The chat logs painted a vivid picture of the military operation’s execution. Hegseth sent time-stamped messages detailing key actions including weather confirmations, aircraft launches, and target identification. The operation resulted in significant casualties, as reported by Yemen’s Houthi-run health ministry, which indicated at least 53 fatalities.
After confirming the identity of certain targets, group members communicated their responses, including Vice President Vance suggesting they might be making a mistake, yet later supporting the military action. Trump reiterated his commitment to addressing the Houthi threat, proclaiming that their attacks must cease with imminent consequences if they did not.
In light of the breach, senior Democrats demanded a Justice Department investigation to assess the circumstances surrounding the addition of Goldberg to the chat. They expressed particular concern over the revelation of operational details, while Trump administration officials maintained that no classified information had been exposed. Waltz admitted feeling embarrassed by the incident and noted uncertainty regarding how Goldberg entered the private group chat.
The leaked Signal group chats reveal critical insights into the U.S. military operations planned against Houthi targets in Yemen, involving sensitive discussions among high-ranking officials. Despite President Trump’s assurance that the security breach was minor, the incident raised alarms among senior Democrats, leading to calls for a formal investigation. The breach highlights serious concerns regarding operational security and the potential consequences of unintentional disclosures in military planning contexts.
Original Source: www.indiatoday.in
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