The PM’s spokesman said the government was confident in the security of operational information shared with the US – despite Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth discussing a previous strike in a group chat
The UK has “full confidence” that information on military operations shared with the US will be kept secure, despite Donald Trump’s ‘Signalgate’ scandal.
Last month it emerged Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth had discussed operational details of a previous strike on Houthi rebels in a group chat on Signal, a privacy-focused – but not military-grade secure – messaging app.
It’s since been reported Mr Hegseth shared details of the attack on a second group chat that included his wife and brother and around a dozen people from his personal and professional “inner circle”.
Such high level secret conversations normally take place in person, or if not in person using a SCIF – a secure communications clean room set up by intelligence officers to ensure they cant be bugged or hacked.
Last night, the RAF carried out strikes against a drone manufacturing facility run by the Houthi militia in Yemen to uphold “freedom of navigation” for ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
It was part of a joint operation with the US, using Typhoon jets to target a cluster of buildings 15 miles south of the capital Sanaa.
Asked whether the UK had sought assurances that details of the British part of the operation would not be discussed in insecure environments, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the UK had “existing protocols” for keeping details secure.
Asked whether the government was confident the US was adhering to a similar level of security, given the joint nature of the operation, the spokesman said: “That’s a matter for the US. We have our own protocols.”
Pressed on the question, he added: “We collaborate with the US on defence and Security and have full confidence in that relationship.”
The UK has taken part in airstrikes alongside the US since the Biden administration began its campaign of strikes targeting the Houthis back in January 2024.
But last night’s strike is the first to see the British involved in the campaign under Trump.
The UK offered no information on the damage done in the strike, nor whether they believed anyone had been killed. The US military’s Central Command didn’t acknowledge the strike.