In a major security breach, senior officials from former President Donald Trump’s administration mistakenly included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing classified U.S. military operations in Yemen. The chat, named “Houthi PC small group,” included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. It contained details about upcoming U.S. airstrikes against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants.

Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported the incident after realizing the sensitive nature of the messages. The National Security Council has confirmed the messages’ authenticity and launched an investigation into how Goldberg was added to the chat. Defense Secretary Hegseth downplayed the incident, denying that classified war plans were disclosed, while President Trump stated he was unaware of the situation but assured that an internal review is underway.

The disclosure has triggered bipartisan criticism, with Democratic lawmakers calling for a thorough investigation into potential violations of national security protocols. Experts have also raised concerns about the use of unclassified communication platforms like Signal for discussing sensitive military operations.

Compounding the controversy, leaked messages reveal Vice President Vance expressing skepticism about the strategic value of the strikes, suggesting they might benefit European allies more than the U.S. and could lead to increased oil prices. The incident has fueled debate over the administration’s handling of classified information and the broader implications of its military decisions in the Middle East.