How a Signal Request Exposed US War Plans on Yemen to a Journalist
Donald Trump ordered military strikes against Yemen’s Houthis on March 15, post an unexpected Signal message from Michael Waltz, his national security adviser, led journalist Jeffrey Goldberg into sensitive military discussions concerning Yemen. This marked a rare instance of a reporter being drawn into high-level national security dialogues.
On March 15, Donald Trump initiated military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi forces, signaling Iran to cease its support following assaults on Red Sea shipping routes. The pivotal moment for Jeffrey Goldberg, an American-Israeli journalist, arose from an ordinary Signal message when he received a connection request from Michael Waltz, the national security adviser to President Trump, on March 11.
Despite initial skepticism about the authenticity of the request due to the fraught relationship between the Trump administration and the media, Goldberg opted to accept, anticipating discussions on urgent global matters such as Ukraine or Iran.
Shortly thereafter, he received a notification regarding his addition to a Signal group chat labeled “Houthi PC small group,” which led him to believe that discussions would center on sensitive issues concerning the Houthi movement in Yemen. Notably, at 4:28 PM local time, a message from Michael Waltz illuminated the seriousness of the situation with directives for coordination regarding the Houthis.
The message initiated a plan involving a principals committee, typically reserved for top national security officials, which left Goldberg astonished. He had rarely, if ever, participated in such exclusive discussions and found it unprecedented to receive insight into high-level conversations via a commercial messaging platform.
This situation underscores the intersection of journalism and national security, showcasing how an innocuous Signal message led to unexpected access to sensitive military conversations. Goldberg’s experience highlights the unusual dynamics between media professionals and government officials, especially within contentious political contexts. Such instances raise pertinent questions regarding transparency and communication methods in times of international crisis.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
