Signal Chats on Yemen Military Operations Revealed, Raising Security Concerns
The publication of Signal chats regarding U.S. military plans in Yemen has contradicted Trump administration claims of non-classification. The messages, detailing attack timelines and strategies, involve prominent officials and raise concerns over national security. Despite denials from the White House, 53 civilians were killed in the operation, prompting scrutiny of communication security.
Recent revelations from Signal chats concerning U.S. military operations in Yemen have emerged, contradicting previous assertions from the Trump administration regarding the confidentiality of the communications. The messages, published by The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffery Goldberg, detail a timeline of attacks against Houthi targets and the weaponry to be employed, shared by prominent figures, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
On March 15, the day of the operation, messages from Hegseth outlined the intended military actions approximately two hours before the strikes occurred. Despite subsequent denials from the White House, wherein Karoline Leavitt referred to the narrative as a hoax, questions remain about the appropriateness of discussing operational plans in such an unsecured forum.
Goldberg expressed concern that the messages could have been detrimental if intercepted by hostile entities, potentially endangering American pilots. Despite the White House’s objections, at least 53 civilians, including children, perished in the strikes on Yemen. Notably, real-time updates were provided during the operation, reinforcing the immediate and fluid nature of military communications.
Further complicating the situation, the settings of the Signal chat were altered post-disclosure to extend message visibility from one week to four weeks. Waltz has since taken responsibility for the incident and is probing how Goldberg accessed the chat. President Trump defended Waltz, indicating that the issue stemmed from a minor error and asserted his continued position within the administration.
The Pentagon previously cautioned officials regarding the use of Signal for sending even unclassified information due to vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign adversaries, underlining the risks associated with such communications.
In summary, the publication of Signal chat messages regarding U.S. military operations in Yemen raises significant questions about the handling of sensitive information. Despite official denials from the Trump administration, the details outlined in the messages could have exposed American military assets to risks. The incident has prompted discussions on the security of communication platforms used by government officials, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining operational secrecy.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
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