US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior national security officials reportedly included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, in an unsecured group chat discussing airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Reports suggested that this mistake might have violated several federal regulations.
Goldberg stated in an article for The Atlantic that US national-security leaders had mistakenly added him to a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. He initially doubted the chat’s authenticity but later realized it was real when the bombings began.
Who is Jeffrey Goldberg
Before leading The Atlantic, Goldberg had an extensive journalism career. He previously worked as a Middle East and Washington correspondent for The New Yorker. He also wrote 15 cover stories for The New York Times Magazine. His career began as a police reporter for The Washington Post.
Goldberg is also an author, known for his book Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror, which explores international conflicts and security challenges. He has received several awards, including the Overseas Press Club Award, the Daniel Pearl Award, and the National Magazine Award for reporting.
Journalist Knew About Yemen Strike in Advance
According to reports, the chat, which took place on Signal, an open-source messaging app, involved operational details about planned attacks in Yemen. It allegedly contained information about targets, weapons, and the sequencing of attacks. Some messages reportedly came from high-ranking officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Goldberg mentioned that he learned about the bombings more than two hours before the government publicly announced them. He expressed concerns that, if adversaries had accessed this information, they could have used it to endanger American military and intelligence personnel, especially in the Middle East.
Government Response to the Blunder
US military units had launched strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier in the month. They targeted over 30 sites over a few days. When questioned about the security breach, Defense Department officials referred inquiries to the National Security Council.
National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the reported messages. He stated that authorities were investigating how an unintended number was added to the chat. Hughes also described the conversation as a reflection of deep and thoughtful policy coordination among senior officials. However, he assured that the leak did not pose any risks to US service members or national security amid the ongoing Houthi operations.
Possible Rule Violations
Reports indicated that officials may have violated regulations regarding the sharing of sensitive military operations data, classified information, and government record-keeping. Some senior leaders allegedly raised concerns about former President Donald Trump’s Middle East policy. They also criticized European allies for their lack of action in the region.
Additionally, Goldberg reported that Hegseth reassured chat participants that they were “clean on OPSEC” despite using a non-government platform and mistakenly adding a journalist to the discussion.
