Report finds Hegseth jeopardized troops by discussing war plans on Signal

The Pentagons watchdog is set to conclude in an upcoming report that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth endangered military personnel and an active mission by sharing operational attack plans through a Signal group chat.

The leak occurred after national security adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a private Signal conversation containing highly sensitive details regarding a planned strike against Houthi forces. The group, titled Houthi PC small group, included 18 senior officials among them Hegseth, Waltz and Vice President JD Vance.

According to captured messages circulated within the chat, participants openly discussed launch schedules, bomb drop times and specific intentions to eliminate a Houthi commander in Yemen content exchanged just hours before the covert operation commenced. Members also criticized European allies for what they described as inadequate support.

Congress requested a formal review after internal disagreements arose over whether any of the shared messages were officially classified. The Inspector Generals assessment is expected to be released before noon on Thursday, and select lawmakers were briefed on its contents Wednesday.

The report will not determine whether Hegseth technically disclosed classified material, noting that the defence secretary himself holds authority to classify or declassify information. However, it will state that the data given to Hegseth was classified at the time and that distributing it on a private messaging platform could have compromised US forces and the operation if intercepted. The document suggests Houthi leadership may have escaped or moved among civilians had they detected the imminent attack.

Hegseth has repeatedly rejected accusations of sharing classified plans and declined to participate in an interview for the inquiry. In a written response, he maintained that he only transmitted information he deemed safe and within his power to declassify if necessary.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declared the Inspector Generals conclusions a vindication, insisting the inquiry confirmed no classified material was transmitted and that the matter should now be considered closed.

The scrutiny comes as Hegseth faces broader pressure over recent US operations in the Caribbean, where the legality of lethal strikes on suspected narcotics vessels has come into question.

Analysis: The Signal Chat Leak and Its Impact on US Military Operations

The recent Pentagon watchdog report highlights a serious breach of security, shedding light on how a private Signal chat could have endangered a covert military operation. According to the findings, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's involvement in a group message detailing sensitive operational plans for an attack on Houthi forces in Yemen raises questions about the security of classified information.

While the Pentagon has clarified that the report will not confirm whether Hegseth disclosed classified material, it emphasizes that the content shared was classified at the time. By distributing these details through a private messaging platform, the risk of interception and potential compromise of the operation becomes clear. The leaked information, including launch schedules and the targeting of a Houthi commander, could have allowed adversaries to alter their plans or even avoid the attack altogether.

Moreover, the incident points to a larger issue surrounding the effectiveness and security of communication methods within the U.S. government. In a world increasingly reliant on encrypted digital platforms, the Pentagon's struggle to manage secure conversations among high-ranking officials exposes the vulnerability of sensitive military information, even in the hands of trusted personnel.

In the aftermath of the leak, Defense Secretary Hegseth's dismissal of the concerns—insisting that he only shared what he believed was declassified—does little to allay fears about accountability. The Pentagon's insistence on the closure of the inquiry, declaring no classified materials were leaked, does not address the broader concerns about the effectiveness of current protocols for handling highly sensitive data.

Ultimately, this event serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when classified information is handled improperly, particularly when it comes to military operations. The question now is whether enough safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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• Hegseth risked troops by discussing war plans on Signal, report finds