US National security breach: Top officials accidentally share war plans

Top national security officials, including US President Donald Trump's defense secretary, mistakenly shared war plans for the upcoming military strikes in Yemen in a group chat on a secure messaging app, according to a media report. A report claimed that shortly before 2 pm on 15 March, the world came to know that the US was bombing Houthi bases in Yemen.

Acknowledgement of the mistake

Brian Hughes, spokesman for the US National Security Council, acknowledged the mistake. Senior national security officials, including US President Donald Trump's defense secretary, unwittingly posted war plans for the future military attacks in Yemen in a group chat on a secret messaging app, a media report stated. The White House stated on Monday after the leak was made public by the magazine.

It was known prior to the attack

The plan contained correct information regarding the weapons package, target and timing, the report stated. It was sent in a group chat two hours before the US attacked Yemen on March 15. The report added that just before 2 pm Eastern Time on March 15, the world learned that the US was bombing Houthi bases in Yemen. But I knew two hours before the first bombing that there was going to be an attack. I knew because Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent me the battle plan at 11.44 am.

The plan had correct details on the weapons package, targets and timing

Brian Hughes, the spokesperson of the US National Security Council, has confirmed the error and mentioned that the chat group seemed genuine. Vice President J.D. Vance's account, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's account, CIA Director John Ratcliffe's account, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's account, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Besant's account, White House Chief of Staff Suzie Wills' account and senior National Security Council officials' accounts were also part of the chat group, the report added.

Houthi operation has continued to be successful

"At this point, the reported thread of messages seems to be genuine and we are taking a look at how a digit somehow got added to the chain," a National Security Council spokesperson statement read. It is a show of in-depth and reflective policy coordination between the authorities. The fact that the Houthi operation has continued to be successful proves that there was no danger to our service members or our national security.

U.S. Houthi airstrikes

Democratic congressmen sharply denounced the gaffe, calling it a breach of US national security and the law that Congress ought to investigate. President Trump said 2.5 hours after it was brought to his notice that he didn't know sensitive information had been shared. It was not quite apparent initially if the details of military operations were or were not kept secret, but they are usually kept secret and are stored securely, at least to safeguard soldiers and operational safety. The US has conducted airstrikes against the Houthis since the militant group started attacking commercial and military ships in the Red Sea in November 2023.