Pentagon chief Hegseth shared sensitive Yemen war plans in second Signal chat, source says

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under renewed scrutiny after reportedly sharing sensitive military details about a March airstrike on Yemen’s Houthi forces in a private Signal chat that included family members and his personal attorney.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly disclosed classified information regarding a U.S. airstrike targeting Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen to a private group chat on the Signal messaging app, according to a source familiar with the situation. The chat reportedly included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer—raising further concerns about his handling of sensitive national security material.

This latest revelation follows an earlier incident in which The Atlantic reported that Hegseth mistakenly included the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in a separate Signal chat containing classified discussions involving senior Trump administration security officials. The repeated misuse of unsecured platforms has fueled mounting concern, particularly amid an ongoing leak investigation that led to the dismissal of several Pentagon officials last week.

According to the source—who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter—the second chat group, created during Hegseth’s confirmation process, was initially intended for administrative coordination. However, the chat reportedly included information about the schedule of airstrikes on Houthi targets.

Images released by the Pentagon show Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, present during classified meetings, including one with the U.K. Defense Secretary in March. His brother, a Department of Homeland Security liaison, was also part of the group.

The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance on internal leaks, a position strongly backed by Hegseth during his tenure. Despite the growing controversy, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the allegations, accusing the media of bias and political motives.

“The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda,” Parnell stated on X. “We've already achieved so much for the American warfighter and will never back down.”

As scrutiny deepens, the alleged leaks threaten to spark a broader debate over the handling of classified information at the highest levels of the U.S. defense establishment.

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