US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's Signal Use on Yemen Strike Sparks Concerns, Finds Pentagon Watchdog

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A recent review by the US Pentagon's inspector general has found that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal messaging app during a military strike on Yemen's Houthi rebels put US personnel and their mission at risk. Although Hegseth did not violate rules on classification, the report has raised concerns about the security of sensitive information. According to sources, the investigation was sparked by a revelation from The Atlantic magazine in March that its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently included in a Signal chat involving US officials, including Hegseth and then-national security advisor Mike Waltz. The chat discussed strikes on Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels and included sensitive information about the timing of strikes, aircraft, and missiles involved. The White House initially denied that any classified information was shared, but later acknowledged that Hegseth had declassified the information. Hegseth has since claimed 'total exoneration' in a social media post, stating that no classified information was shared and that the case is closed. The partially redacted report is expected to be released publicly this week, providing further insight into the investigation and the concerns surrounding Hegseth's use of the Signal app.