Exclusive White House blunder: High-level security breach in secret Military Operation

This mistake provided Goldberg with an unexpected and classified look into the internal communications of Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and other high-ranking officials.

The mishap occurred on March 11, when Goldberg received a chat request on Signal from someone named “Michael Woltz.” Goldberg initially suspected that this could be a fake request from someone trying to deceive him into sharing sensitive information. However, after accepting the request, Goldberg was soon added to a small, high-security chat group called "The Small Houthi Group," where officials shared top-secret details about plans for military action against the Houthis.

Goldberg, known as a prominent journalist, couldn't believe he was included in such a sensitive conversation. Initially skeptical that this could be a disinformation campaign by a foreign intelligence agency or a journalistic trick, he continued to observe the conversation, still uncertain about its authenticity. As he was consulting with colleagues, the chat members continued to discuss operational details.

As the days progressed, Goldberg began to notice alarming details in the discussions. For example, the group discussed sensitive military tactics, including targets in Yemen and the weapons being used by the U.S. military. One of the messages from Secretary of Defense Mark Esper outlined potential risks of waiting to act, which might lead to leaks or force Israel to act first, thus complicating the situation. The conversations included clear operational plans for military strikes, including real-time details such as the timing of bombings.

Goldberg soon realized that the conversation was likely legitimate, and he grew increasingly concerned about the lack of security in these communications. He later removed himself from the chat group and sent questions to the White House officials involved, asking if the chat group was real, if the inclusion of a journalist had been intentional, and whether such actions posed a security risk to U.S. personnel.

In response, a spokesperson from the National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the chat group, stating that the conversation was genuine but that they were investigating how Goldberg was mistakenly added. The spokesperson also emphasized that the ongoing operation against the Houthis was successful and had no impact on U.S. security.

The incident raises serious questions about the security practices of high-level U.S. government officials and their handling of sensitive military operations. The accidental inclusion of a journalist in such a critical discussion highlights the vulnerabilities in the system and the potential for leaks that could endanger national security.