Signal Scandal: Journalist Accidentally Exposed to U.S. Strike Plans on Yemen

Watan-In one of the most serious scandals to hit the U.S. security establishment in recent years, it was revealed that a senior journalist was “accidentally” added to a Signal group chat involving top officials from former President Donald Trump’s administration — a chat that contained highly classified details about a planned U.S. strike on the Houthis in Yemen.

According to the investigation, the group included high-ranking figures such as the National Security Advisor, the Vice President, and the Secretaries of Defense and State, all of whom were discussing the timing and operational specifics of the imminent military action. Shockingly, the journalist was receiving all the messages in real time — and later confirmed his disbelief when the strike began at the exact moment it had been discussed in the chat.

Signal Leak Fallout

The revelation sparked a storm of anger and concern in political and security circles. National security experts described it as a deeply dangerous breach — not only due to the sensitivity of the information, but also because it endangered the lives of American personnel operating in the Red Sea. Had the details been leaked to the Houthis, the consequences could have been disastrous.

While Signal is sometimes used for informal communication, sharing sensitive military intelligence through such channels constitutes a clear violation of national security protocols. The incident raises serious questions about the professionalism of Trump-era officials and their ability to safeguard classified information.

The White House acknowledged the error implicitly, while Trump himself quickly denied any knowledge of the situation. However, investigations are ongoing to determine who added the journalist to the chat, why the mistake wasn’t corrected immediately, and whether similar breaches may have occurred previously.

This scandal reinforces long-standing concerns about the mishandling of classified data within some U.S. administrations. It also threatens to erode trust within the intelligence and defense communities and could damage relationships with allies — especially at a time when the Middle East is facing escalating tensions and heightened security risks.