Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.

Pentagon chief Hegseth shared Yemen war plans in second Signal chat

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Apr 2025 08:13
4 Min Read

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing growing scrutiny after reportedly disclosing sensitive details about a military strike in Yemen to a private messaging group, marking the second known leak.

Listen
  • x
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the East Room of the White House, April 15, 2025, in Washington (AP/Alex Brandon)Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the East Room of the White House, April 15, 2025, in Washington (AP/Alex Brandon)

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed information about a March military strike on Yemen’s Ansar Allah in a private messaging group that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Sunday.

This marks the second known instance of Hegseth using an unclassified Signal messaging thread to communicate sensitive national security information. The disclosure comes amid heightened scrutiny, as several senior Pentagon officials were removed last week during an internal probe into leaks.

The Trump administration has taken a hard stance against unauthorized disclosures, a position Hegseth has strongly supported. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, without offering evidence, stated that "the Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump's agenda. ...We've already achieved so much for the American warfighter, and will never back down."

In this second chat, Hegseth reportedly discussed details of the strike that closely mirrored information previously published by The Atlantic. That publication’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, had been allegedly "mistakenly added" to a separate Signal thread, revealing classified conversations among top national security officials in the Trump administration.

According to the anonymous source, the chat included around a dozen participants and was initially formed during Hegseth’s confirmation process, primarily to manage administrative tasks rather than operational planning. However, the group also received updates about the air strike schedule, the source added.

Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, has also been present at classified meetings with foreign military representatives, as seen in Pentagon-released images. She was also spotted behind Hegseth during a March meeting with his British counterpart at the Pentagon. Hegseth’s brother currently serves as a Department of Homeland Security liaison to the Pentagon.

White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly also criticized former officials, saying, "Recently fired ‘leakers’ are continuing to misrepresent the truth to soothe their shattered egos and undermine the President’s agenda."

Related News

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

US launches three strikes on 4 vessels in Eastern Pacific, kills 14

Growing pressure on Hegseth

Democratic leaders have demanded Hegseth’s removal. "We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X. "But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired."

The details keep coming out. We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him.

Pete Hegseth must be fired.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 20, 2025

Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran injured in combat, echoed those calls, stating Hegseth "must resign in disgrace."

A Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned how Hegseth could remain in his role following these developments.

The new revelations follow the recent departure of Dan Caldwell, a close advisor to Hegseth, who was removed from the Pentagon as part of the ongoing leak investigation. Caldwell had been identified in the first Signal chat as Hegseth’s main liaison at the Department of Defense.

"We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended," Caldwell posted on X. "Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door."

In the aftermath, two additional officials, namely, Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, were placed on administrative leave and terminated on Friday.

The firings come after Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, called for an inquiry into unauthorized disclosures of national security information. In March, Kasper stated that any individuals found responsible should be referred to law enforcement for possible criminal prosecution.

However, the officials say they were not given details about any investigation into the alleged Pentagon leak, nor were they formally accused. “Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door,” they added, calling the experience “unconscionable.”

  • United States
  • US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
  • SignalGate
  • leaked group chat
  • US
  • Yemen
  • Pete Hegseth

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bln defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tighten El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS