‘No Names, No Targets’: Hegseth Dismisses US War Plan Leak Controversy

A controversy erupted after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat containing top US officials discussing military actions. The incident occurred just hours before the US launched strikes against the Houthi rebels on March 15.

The unclassified chat included high-ranking officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Goldberg’s accidental inclusion gave him access to sensitive discussions, sparking concerns over operational security.

Trump Downplays the Incident

In response to the controversy, former President Donald Trump dismissed concerns, stating the situation was not “serious.” Meanwhile, Hegseth took to social media to refute claims of a security breach.

“So, let’s get this straight. The Atlantic released the so-called ‘war plans’ and those ‘plans’ include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information. Those are some really shitty war plans,” Hegseth posted on X. He further emphasized that his team was actively engaged in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on military operations rather than media speculations.

Pentagon and White House Defend Actions

While Hegseth denied sharing classified details, he did not directly address whether the information posted was sensitive. Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee that it was up to Hegseth to determine whether the shared content was classified.

The White House referred to an X post by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, which asserted: “No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS.”

The Atlantic Reveals Details of Airstrike Plans

The Atlantic published details of the US airstrikes in Yemen, revealing key information unintentionally shared with Goldberg through the Signal chat. The magazine claimed it made multiple attempts to seek clarification from the White House before publishing to ensure no security risks were posed.

Goldberg reported that some details were acknowledged as sensitive by White House officials, though they preferred they not be publicized. The Signal messages reportedly contained specifics about the “strike window” timing, target locations, weaponry deployment, and real-time operational security status.

Security Implications and Future Actions

The Pentagon and the White House have attempted to shift focus by criticizing Goldberg and The Atlantic, but the situation has raised questions about how sensitive information is handled within government channels. As scrutiny continues, officials may face further inquiries regarding the safeguards in place to prevent such leaks in the future.