• The Pentagon's inspector general found Pete Hegseth's use of Signal risked U.S. personnel during military operations.
• Hegseth reportedly shared sensitive operational details about airstrikes against Houthi militants.
• The investigation determined he violated Pentagon policy by using a personal device for official communication.
• Despite allegations, the report concluded he did not improperly declassify information due to his authority as Defense Secretary.
• Concerns grow over the impact of these actions on troop safety and operational security.

The Pentagon's inspector general has determined that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth risked U.S. personnel and military operations by using the Signal messaging app to discuss sensitive details regarding airstrikes on Houthi militants in Yemen. This finding arises from a report summarizing the investigation that concluded Hegseth violated Pentagon protocols by sharing details such as **exact timings and aircraft types of military operations** on an unsecured platform, potentially compromising operational security, according to SCMP, India Times, and Channel News Asia.

The fallout from the use of Signal became widely publicized after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was inadvertently added to a chat where Hegseth and other high-ranking officials discussed the upcoming strikes, including specifics about the launch times and operational details. Goldberg's resultant coverage led to rising concerns over national security and transparency, raising alarms among both Democrats and Republicans, according to Al Jazeera and NPR.

The inspector general’s report highlighted that while Hegseth possesses the authority to declassify information, using Signal on his personal device still constituted a breach of protocol. Critics assert that sharing **detailed military information through a commercial app** jeopardized operational security and could have endangered American troops, as the group chat revealed critical attack details hours prior to execution, as reported by Dawn, HuffPost, and Al Jazeera.

Despite finding that Hegseth may not have mishandled classified material, the Pentagon's spokesperson asserted that this investigation indicates serious missteps in judgment. "We expect better operational security," the Pentagon emphasized, highlighting the need for stricter adherence to communication policies. This scrutiny is compounded by ongoing investigations into Hegseth's actions related to strikes on potentially non-combatant vessels in the Caribbean, which have escalated discussions surrounding military conduct under his command, according to India Times and Channel News Asia.