Trump slams NATO; U.S. counterterror head quits; Israel claims Iran security chief killed - Day 18 of Iran war
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani wa...
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has denied reports by The Atlantic regarding the sharing of secret military plans for operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Upon arriving at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam in Oahu on March 24, Hegseth told journalists that "no one texted war plans" and criticized the involved journalist as "deceptive," accusing him of repeatedly spreading hoaxes.
The issue stems from a report published by The Atlantic. According to the report, senior officials in the Trump administration accidentally disclosed military plans in a messaging group that included a journalist, shortly before the United States launched airstrikes against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said he was unexpectedly invited on March 13 to an encrypted chat group on the Signal messaging app called "Houthi PC small group."
In this group, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz tasked his deputy Alex Wong with setting up a "tiger team" to coordinate US actions against the Houthis. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed that the group appeared to be legitimate.
According to Goldberg, hours before the United States began large-scale airstrikes against the Houthis on March 15 in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared operational details about the plan in the group, including information about targets, weapons the US would deploy, and attack sequencing. Although Goldberg omitted these details, he described the use of the Signal chat as "shockingly reckless."
Hegseth denied the allegations of sharing military plans and accused Goldberg of fabricating the information, claiming the journalist had spread numerous hoaxes in the past.
The incident has raised serious concerns about national security. Several lawmakers have condemned the leak as a serious security threat, warning that it could jeopardize the safety of US military personnel. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for an investigation into the matter, cautioning that such leaks could endanger US military personnel. Other political figures, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed concerns that the leak could have serious consequences for US military operations.
President Donald Trump distanced himself from the situation, stating that he was unaware of the leak and the details surrounding it. Investigations are ongoing, and questions remain about the potential impact of this leak on US military operations.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released $2m in emergency funding to support health responses in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria as escalating regional conflict strains hospitals, raises displacement and increases pressure on already fragile health systems.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (17 March) announced that he is postponing a highly anticipated trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, citing the war with Iran as the main disruption to efforts to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or cancelled and forcing schools, federal offices and communities to take emergency precautions.
China’s international trade representative has said Beijing and Washington have reached a “preliminary consensus” on some key issues following their latest round of talks in Paris, offering a cautious sign of progress in a relationship long marked by tension and uncertainty.
Chile’s newly inaugurated president, José Antonio Kast, has taken his first major step on immigration, launching plans for a fortified barrier along the country’s northern border just days after entering office.
A Russian drone attack damaged industrial, port, and energy infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odesa region overnight. The strikes disrupted power supplies in several settlements, prompting local authorities to switch critical facilities to backup power generators.
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