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Controversy Surrounds US Defense Secretary Over Yemen Air Strikes Communications
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has come under scrutiny following revelations about the sharing of information related to US air strikes on Yemen through a private Signal messaging group. Sources familiar with the communications confirmed to CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that Hegseth sent messages on March 15 that included flight schedules for American F/A-18 Hornets targeting Houthi positions.
This latest development follows reports from a month earlier regarding another Signal group discussing sensitive US military operations. In response to the news of the new group, the White House emphasized that no classified information was disclosed.
Notably, Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, who is a former producer for Fox News, was part of this group, despite holding no official role at the Pentagon. This raises questions since Hegseth has faced criticism in the past for involving his wife in high-stakes discussions with foreign officials.
Others included in the group were Hegseth’s brother, Phil, and his personal lawyer, Tim Parlatore, both of whom are affiliated with the Department of Defense. However, the rationale behind providing these individuals with insights into sensitive strike plans remains unclear.
Unlike the earlier group, the newly formed “Defense | Team Huddle” was initiated by Hegseth himself, as reported by the New York Times. This earlier group, which came to light when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, was mistakenly included, was also used for discussing operations related to strikes in Yemen.
Critics, including former defense officials, express concern that the discussions taking place in Signal groups might endanger US military personnel involved in these operations. The White House has reiterated that no classified information was exchanged in either group, yet doubts linger among commentators regarding the implications of such communications.
The emergence of this second Signal group adds to the ongoing controversies surrounding Hegseth, who oversees a substantial budget of $892 billion. Recently, he dismissed three senior officials under allegations of unauthorized disclosure—claims that those officials described as unfounded.
In an op-ed for Politico, John Ullyot, a former communications director at the Pentagon who resigned last week, characterized the current state of the department as “total chaos,” indicating that such dysfunction presents significant distractions for the president’s administration.
Defending Hegseth, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, denounced what he described as “Trump-hating media” for attempting to undermine those aligned with the Trump agenda, reiterating that no classified materials were discussed in the Signal groups.
The US asserts that its air strikes in Yemen are a response to Houthi aggression against commercial vessels navigating the Red Sea, a vital route for global trade. Since November 2023, Houthi forces have launched multiple assaults against merchant ships in this region, resulting in the sinking of two vessels, the seizure of another, and the death of four crew members.
The Houthis claim that their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, often misrepresenting that their targets are exclusively connected to the US, UK, or Israeli interests.
This week, US air strikes targeting an oil terminal in north-western Yemen reportedly resulted in at least 74 fatalities and 171 injuries, according to figures released by the Houthi-controlled health ministry, which characterized the strikes as a “war crime.”
Source
www.bbc.com