Hegseth Reportedly Shared Yemen Strike Details in Second Signal Chat

Former US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under scrutiny again after allegedly sharing details about military strikes in Yemen via the Signal messaging app, according to a report in The New York Times. This incident involves a separate Signal chat from a previous one that mistakenly included a member of the media.

The latest report indicates that Hegseth used a personal Signal chat, titled “Defense | Team Huddle,” which he created before becoming Defense Secretary. The group included his wife and about a dozen other personal and professional contacts. The New York Times cites unnamed sources stating the shared information was similar to that from the previous incident, including flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets involved in the strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15th.

Unlike the previous incident, this chat was initiated by Hegseth on his personal phone before assuming his role as Defense Secretary. A US official acknowledged the existence of the “informal group chat” to The New York Times, but asserted that no classified information was discussed. However, the official declined to comment on whether targeting details were shared.

The New York Times also reports that Hegseth’s aides cautioned him against discussing sensitive operational details in the Signal group chat prior to the Yemen strikes, advising him to move work-related discussions to his government-issued phone. Reportedly, he did not follow this advice.

This latest revelation raises further questions about communication security and protocol within the Defense Department.

Source: The New York Times