US Defence Secretary Hegseth shared Yemen war plans in Signal chat with family: Reports | World News

Details of airstrikes, schedules leaked

Sources familiar with the chat told CNN that the messages included information about US airstrikes on the Houthis. Similar details had previously been shared in another Signal group involving Cabinet officials, which is currently under investigation by the Defence Department’s acting inspector general. That group made headlines after national security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly added The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief.

The second chat raises fresh concerns about Hegseth’s use of unclassified communication channels for handling national security matters. According to a Reuters source, the chat also included the schedule of airstrikes, further intensifying scrutiny.

Family members and lawyer had access to sensitive data

Among the participants were Hegseth’s wife Jennifer, a former Fox News producer with no official position at the Department of Defence,  his brother Phil, who serves as a Homeland Security liaison, and his lawyer Tim Parlatore, who holds a position within the Pentagon.

Images published by the Pentagon show Jennifer Hegseth attending sensitive meetings with foreign military leaders, despite not holding a security clearance.

It remains unclear whether all members of the chat had the necessary clearance to access classified information.

This disclosure comes amid significant turmoil within the Pentagon. Last week, Hegseth fired three senior officials — top adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defence. His chief of staff Joe Kasper resigned amid internal tensions but may be reassigned.

Former press secretary John Ullyot, who also resigned last week, told CNN that “the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership”. Ullyot also denied that the firings were related to leaks, adding that none of the officials had undergone polygraph tests and some were reportedly on the verge of being cleared.

Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll issued a joint statement Saturday saying they were “incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended”, denying involvement in any leaks.

FBI probe

Sources told CNN that Hegseth had grown increasingly suspicious of internal leaks following reports about military operations in the Panama Canal and Middle East, as well as a classified Pentagon briefing with Elon Musk. His push for an FBI probe into the leaks was reportedly discouraged by aides, citing the ongoing inspector general investigation.

The White House and the Pentagon have not issued official comments in response to the reports. However, political backlash is growing. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Hegseth’s dismissal, stating, “We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk… Pete Hegseth must be fired.” Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, said Hegseth “must resign in disgrace”.

Hegseth has so far refrained from public comment and avoided scheduled media appearances.

(With inputs from Reuters and CNN)