U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive operational details about American airstrikes in Yemen via a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer, four sources familiar with the matter said.

The incident, which occurred on March 15, involved the dissemination of flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornet jets targeting Houthi positions in Yemen, Caliber.Az reports per The New York Times.

The information shared in the chat mirrored strike details Hegseth conveyed the same day in a separate Signal thread that inadvertently included The Atlantic’s editor, they said.

The newly revealed chat, named “Defense | Team Huddle,” was reportedly created by Hegseth before his confirmation as defence secretary and continued after his appointment. It included roughly a dozen individuals from his personal and professional circles, according to the sources. The group was accessed using his private mobile device rather than an official government-issued phone.

Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, has no formal role at the Pentagon but has attended sensitive overseas meetings alongside her husband. His brother, Phil Hegseth, and personal lawyer Tim Parlatore both hold roles within the Pentagon, although their involvement in operational briefings has raised questions about security protocols.

The Pentagon’s acting inspector general, Steven Stebbins, has launched a review into the use of commercial messaging apps by top defence officials, following bipartisan calls for accountability. It is unclear whether the “Defense | Team Huddle” chat is included in the scope of the current investigation.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the group chat “never contained classified information,” a position echoed by White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. “No matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same nonstory, they can’t change the fact that no classified information was shared,” she said in a statement.

However, several former defence officials noted that disclosing launch timings and aircraft types prior to a mission would typically be considered classified, with potential implications for the safety of U.S. personnel.

The controversy follows a period of internal turmoil in Hegseth’s office, including the dismissal last week of three senior advisers—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—amid allegations of leaking sensitive information. The firings have heightened tensions within the Pentagon and prompted discussions of further resignations.

Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, described the revelations as “another troubling example of Secretary Hegseth’s reckless disregard for the laws and protocols that every other military service member is required to follow.” Senator Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran, called for Hegseth’s immediate removal.

Despite criticism, Hegseth has maintained that no classified data was shared. “Nobody was texting war plans,” he told reporters last month.

President Donald Trump and senior officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, have continued to defend Hegseth’s actions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev

Source: caliber.az