Category: International

The viral American woman who recently made headlines with her statements during her dramatic stay in Pakistan has resurfaced with another surprising claim. 

Onijah Andrew Robinson was left stranded in Karachi for four months after being dumped by her “lover” upon arrival. The US citizen had travelled to Pakistan in pursuit of love, only to be abandoned by the young man named Nidal Ahmed Memon, a resident of Karachi’s Garden area, leaving her stranded in the country. 

Now, she’s back with a new claim — that this very man is still her “husband”.

A recently surfaced video revealed that Onijah, who was stuck in Dubai for another month after her time in Pakistan, is finally back in her country.

“I’m glad to be back in New York. I’m glad about that. I’m happy about that. To be back in New York. That’s all I have to say right now,” she said in response to a question on where she had been.

When asked if she was still in contact with anybody from Pakistan, Onijah made a bold claim that she is indeed in touch with someone, who is her “husband”.

“Yes, I am [with] my husband. He lives in Pakistan. […] I love you, baby. We are together,” she said.

Onijah said that “this is one guy. This is my husband. Nidal Ahmed,” when the woman behind the camera asked if it was “a different guy” or she had met anyone else.

Revealing the details of how she had met her husband, Onijah shared that she came to know him “on a romantic date” after coming across each other through the internet.

When asked if she had any plans about going back to Pakistan, she said: “You know, we’re going to discuss that. Well, right now, we’re all staying in New York.

It may be noted that during her stay in Pakistan, Onijah had demanded the authorities pay her $3,000 per week for her expenses.

When asked if she received any money or land in Pakistan, she said “they’re saying they gonna give that land, they gonna give that $20K […] $50K straight”.

“They were gonna give me the $100K every week, but I left. So we’re gonna see what they gonna work on while I’m not there. I do have chips that have my face on it in Pakistan. I love you guys […] I miss you guys in Pakistan.”

Onijah also claimed that she will soon be having her own show out soon with her “husband” and it would be “exclusive”.

Onijah’s viral story

The 33-year-old American woman had found herself in a dire predicament in Pakistan after falling for a Karachi teenager. She travelled from New York to Karachi, with plans to marry him, but was left stranded when the teenager backed out of the marriage under pressure from his family.

Onijah had reportedly arrived in Karachi on October 11, 2024, on a tourist visa valid for 30 days. During her stay, her visa expired, and she overstayed, leaving her unable to exit the country.

As Robinson did not hold a valid ticket for the US, she was not allowed to enter the airport premises by the Airport Security Force (ASF). Later, she was facilitated with the issuance of a new visa, a return ticket and a permit for her exit after Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori intervened. 

However, after receiving clearance from airport staff, she abruptly changed her mind and refused to board the flight, accusing airline staff of forcing her to leave the country.

She also spent some time in Jinnah Hospital’s psychiatric ward after her health deteriorated. It may be noted that her son, Jeremiah Robinson, had released a video from the US, claiming that Onijah was “bipolar”, after she went viral on social media.

She finally agreed to return to the US after being persuaded by staff from the US Consulate in Karachi, and flew to the US. There were reports that she was then stuck in Dubai for almost a month due to some issues with her travel documents. 

The death toll from Myanmar’s devastating earthquake has risen to 3,354, with 4,850 injured and 220 still missing, according to local media reports.

The United Nations aid chief, visiting the disaster-hit country, praised humanitarian and community groups for their efforts in the ongoing aid response.

Meanwhile, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar’s military government, returned to Naypyitaw after attending a summit in Bangkok with leaders from South and Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and India.

During his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hlaing reaffirmed the junta’s commitment to conduct “free and fair” elections in December.

Modi called for a post-quake ceasefire in Myanmar’s civil war to be made permanent and said the elections needed to be “inclusive and credible”, an Indian foreign affairs spokesperson said on Friday.

Critics have derided the planned election as a sham to keep the generals in power through proxies.

Since overthrowing the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, the military has struggled to run Myanmar, leaving the economy and basic services, including healthcare, in tatters, a situation exacerbated by the March 28 quake.

The civil war that followed the coup has displaced more than 3 million people, with widespread food insecurity and more than a third of the population in need of humanitarian assistance, the UN says.

United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher spent Friday night in Myanmar’s second-biggest city Mandalay, near the epicentre of the quake, posting on X that humanitarian and community groups had led the response to the quake with “courage, skill and determination”.

“Many themselves lost everything, and yet kept heading out to support survivors,” he said.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Friday the junta was restricting aid supplies to quake-hit areas where communities did not back its rule.

The UN office said it was investigating 53 reported attacks by the junta against opponents, including airstrikes, of which 16 were after the ceasefire was declared on Wednesday.

A strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Tremors of the quake were felt early on Saturday morning, around 6:04am local time, about 175 kilometres southeast of Kimbe, in the West New Britain Province.

The quake occurred at a depth of 49 kilometres beneath the surface.

Experts say the jolt is likely to have been widely felt in nearby areas, with the potential for light to moderate damage. Residents in Kimbe, home to nearly 19,000 people, may have experienced noticeable shaking.

A tsunami warning has been issued by the US Tsunami Warning Center. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

There have been varying assessments of the quake’s strength. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported it as magnitude 7.1, while France’s national seismic network recorded it at 6.6. German and American scientific institutions also reported similar events with slightly different magnitudes.

Such differences are not unusual in the early hours after a quake, as seismologists continue to analyse the data.

No immediate reports of injuries or major damage have been confirmed, but updates are expected as more details come in.

The situation is still developing, and authorities are urging people in coastal areas to remain alert and follow official guidance.

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— Additional inputs from Reuters and AFP. 

WASHINGTON: A planned deal to separate TikTok’s US operations into a new American-owned company has been delayed after China signalled it would not approve the move, following President Trump’s decision to sharply raise tariffs on Chinese goods.

The structure of the deal, which was largely finalised by Wednesday, according to one of the sources, would have spun off TikTok’s US operations into a new company based in America, owned and operated by a majority of US investors. ByteDance would hold a minority stake of under 20%.

The deal was approved by existing investors, new investors, ByteDance, and the US government, the source said.

ByteDance and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Chinese Embassy in Washington DC also did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

President Donald Trump on Friday extended by 75 days a deadline for Chinese technology firm ByteDance to sell US assets of the popular short video app TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban that was due to take effect in January under a 2024 law.

“The deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed,” Trump said on social media, explaining why he was extending the January deadline that was supposed to expire on Saturday. “We hope to continue working in good faith with China, who I understand is not very happy about our reciprocal tariffs.”

China now faces a 54% tariff on goods imported into the United States after Trump announced a 34% hike this week, prompting China to retaliate on Friday. Trump has said he would be willing to reduce tariffs on China to finalise a deal with ByteDance to sell the app used by 170 million Americans.

South Korea has endured months of political turmoil since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in December, sending soldiers into parliament in his attempt to subvert civilian rule.

The Constitutional Court delivered the long-awaited ruling, ousting Yoon, whose impeachment it had earlier suspended. The development will potentially bring an end to the unrest.

Here is a recap of events:

December 3: martial law

On December 3, after a budget tussle with the opposition, Yoon takes to television to declare martial law in a flashback to South Korea’s authoritarian past.

He says he wants to protect the country against “threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness”.

Armed troops head to parliament, scaling fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter in an apparent bid to stop lawmakers from overturning the decree.

As thousands of protesters gather outside, lawmakers vote 190-0 to nullify Yoon’s declaration in the early hours of December 4.

Soldiers begin withdrawing and Yoon reappears on television and lifts martial law. Protesters celebrate. Yoon goes to ground.

December 4: impeachment plan

The opposition immediately vows on December 4 to push for impeachment and file an official motion.

They file separate complaints of “insurrection” against Yoon, his defence and interior ministers, and “key military and police figures involved, such as the martial law commander and the police chief”.

Police announce they are investigating Yoon and others for “insurrection”.

December 14: Yoon impeached

Out of 300 lawmakers, 204 vote to impeach Yoon and 85 vote against the motion — their second attempt after a failed vote a week earlier.

Yoon is suspended from office while South Korea’s Constitutional Court has six months to deliberate on the vote.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo becomes the nation’s acting leader.

The vote is followed by scenes of jubilation among tens of thousands of demonstrators in front of the parliament building.

December 27: second impeachment

On December 27, lawmakers impeach acting president Han over what the opposition calls his refusal to sign into law special bills to investigate Yoon.

Finance minister Choi Sang-mok takes over.

Meanwhile, the Corruption Investigation Office sends a third summons to Yoon on December 26, after he defied investigators’ demands twice in a week.

Yoon faces impeachment and criminal charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

December 30: arrest warrant

Investigators apply for an arrest warrant for Yoon after he fails to report for questioning.

It is the first attempt in the country’s history to forcibly detain a president before an impeachment procedure is complete.

Hundreds of Yoon’s supporters rally outside his compound to protest his impeachment, as Yoon vows in a statement to fight alongside them “until the very end to protect this nation”.

January 3: first arrest attempt

Investigators make their move to arrest Yoon but are blocked by his guards in a tense six-hour standoff.

They are forced to stand down, citing security concerns.

January 14: impeachment trial

The Constitutional Court opens Yoon’s impeachment trial.

A total of 11 hearings are held till February 25, some with Yoon himself attending and defending his decision.

January 15: Yoon detained

Investigators attempt to enter Yoon’s residence as his presidential guards, lawyers and supporters try to block the execution of an arrest warrant.

Officers use ladders to breach the compound and approach the residence.

After negotiations, investigators announce the warrant has been served, and Yoon later appears at their offices. Yoon says he complied to “prevent bloodshed”.

Yoon has his mug shot taken and undergoes a physical check as he spends his first night in jail as a criminal suspect.

January 18: Yoon’s warrant extended

The Seoul Western District Court issues a formal arrest warrant extending Yoon’s detention, citing concerns he may destroy evidence.

The decision enrages Yoon’s supporters, some of whom attack the court building, smashing windows and throwing glass bottles onto the grounds.

March 8: Yoon released

The suspended president is released from detention after a court voids his arrest on procedural grounds the day before.

Outside the detention centre, Yoon steps out of the car and waves at his weeping, cheering supporters.

The decision further fuels tensions, with hundreds of thousands rallying for and against Yoon each weekend, some camping out and staging all-night protests.

Verdict

The Constitutional Court announced on April 1 that it will issue its long-awaited ruling on Yoon’s impeachment on Friday.

South Korean police vowed to mobilise “all available resources” to prevent violence that day.

Major tourist sites and nearby schools say they will close on the day of, as embassies warn their citizens to avoid areas near the court in fear of violence.

BANGKOK: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with the interim leader of neighbouring Bangladesh on Friday, the first such meeting since a revolution in Dhaka ousted New Delhi’s long-term ally and soured relations.

Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, 84, took charge of Bangladesh in August 2024 after India’s old ally Sheikh Hasina was toppled as prime minister by a student-led uprising and fled to India by helicopter.

India was the biggest benefactor of Hasina’s government, and her overthrow sent cross-border relations into a tailspin, culminating in Yunus choosing to make his first state visit last month to China — India’s biggest rival.

Bangladesh has also moved closer to India’s arch-enemy Pakistan during the festering diplomatic dispute.

Tensions between India and Bangladesh have prompted a number of tit-for-tat barbs between senior figures from both governments.

New Delhi has repeatedly accused Muslim-majority Bangladesh of failing to adequately protect its minority Hindu citizens — charges denied by the caretaker administration of Yunus.

Yunus posted a picture on social media on Friday showing him shaking hands with Modi. His press secretary Shafiqul Alam said later the “meeting was constructive, productive, and fruitful”.

Their meeting took place on the sidelines of a regional summit in Thailand.

Yunus also shared a photograph of the two men smiling as he handed Modi a framed picture of themselves a decade ago, when the Indian leader honoured the micro-finance pioneer in 2015 with a gold medal for his work supporting society’s poorest.

‘Spirit of pragmatism’

Vikram Misri, the secretary of India’s foreign ministry, told reporters that Modi “reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh”.

Modi said he wanted a “positive and constructive relation with Bangladesh based on a spirit of pragmatism”, Misri added, repeating New Delhi’s concerns about alleged “atrocities” against minorities in Bangladesh.

Yunus, according to Alam, also raised with Modi Dhaka’s long-running complaint about what it says are Hasina’s incendiary remarks from exile.

Hasina, who remains in India, has defied extradition requests from Bangladesh to face charges including mass murder.

Dhaka has requested that India allow Hasina’s extradition to face charges of crimes against humanity for the killing of hundreds of protesters during the unrest that toppled her government.

Misri said Modi and Yunus had discussed the extradition order but there was “nothing more to add” at present.

Yunus also raised concerns about border violence along the porous frontier with India, as well as issues of the shared river waters that flow from India as the Ganges and the Brahmaputra wind towards the sea.

Misri said that the “prevention of illegal border crossing” was necessary.

Yunus’s caretaker government is tasked with implementing democratic reforms ahead of fresh elections slated to take place by June 2026.

Modi and Yunus had dinner on Thursday night, sitting next to each other alongside other leaders from the BIMSTEC regional bloc in Bangkok, but the bilateral meeting on Friday was the first since relations frayed between the neighbouring nations.

The head of secretive US intelligence body the National Security Agency (NSA) was fired Thursday, the Washington Post reported citing US officials who knew the matter.

The officials said that General Timothy Haugh was fired after a little over a year on the job. However, they did not give a reason for Haugh’s removal, The Post added.

Haugh was also serving as head of the US Cyber Command, the Pentagon’s cyber warfare body, which conducts offensive and defensive cyber operations.

His NSA deputy, Wendy Noble, was also fired and reassigned to another job at the Pentagon, The Post said.

The NSA is the US government’s largest and most secretive signals intelligence agency.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

Haugh, who was appointed in February 2024, previously held a string of high-profile government cybersecurity roles, including commander of the elite Cyber National Mission Force.

Reacting to the news, Democratic Congressman Jim Himes said he was “deeply disturbed” by Haugh’s sacking.

“I have known General Haugh to be an honest and forthright leader who followed the law and put national security force,” he said in a statement posted on X. “I fear those are precisely the qualities that could lead to his firing in this Administration.”

US President Donald Trump has led a major shake-up of the armed forces’ leadership since taking office in January.

Trump fired top US military officer General Charles “CQ” Brown in February, not explain Brown’s dismissal less than two years into his four-year term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

His administration is presiding over sweeping layoffs of federal workers and moves to dismantle government institutions just months into his second term.

US Cyber Command’s Deputy Commander William J Hartman and NSA executive director Sheila Thomas have been named acting NSA chief and deputy, The Post reported.

A new report has highlighted the persistent issue of illicit arms proliferation along the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Small Arms Survey, in its report titled “Documenting Arms Availability in Afghanistan”, underscored the continued arms trafficking in the region, with both Soviet-era and NATO-style weapons still readily available in informal markets, despite the Taliban’s attempts to regulate arms distribution.

Field investigations conducted between 2022 and 2024 focus on arms availability, prices, and trafficking dynamics in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces and Pakistan’s tribal districts.

The findings show that, while the Taliban have attempted to tighten civilian arms possession, weapons continue to circulate, often with the tacit approval of local Taliban officials.

These weapons are regularly diverted to non-state armed groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda, raising concerns about regional security.

As per the report, the availability of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition in the border regions has shifted significantly since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

The report found that NATO-pattern weapons, such as M4 and M16 rifles, have seen a substantial price increase, with M4s rising by 13% and M16s by 38% in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.

These increases could indicate reduced supply or increased demand for these weapons in the region. In comparison, Soviet-pattern weapons, including AK-47 rifles, have remained more affordable and relatively stable in price.

While the price of NATO-pattern weapons in Afghanistan has risen, they remain cheaper in Pakistan. For instance, M4 rifles in Pakistan cost between $3,325 and $3,700, which is cheaper than in Afghanistan’s Khost and Nangarhar. M16s, on the other hand, are priced lower in Pakistan, averaging between $1,245 and $1,400, compared to $1,824–3,065 in Afghanistan.

The report highlights that the variation in prices is likely due to factors such as the weapon’s condition, origin, and whether it is a locally made or high-quality replica. These price discrepancies underscore the ongoing dynamics in the informal arms market, with different regions having varying levels of access to and demand for different types of weapons.

Research conducted between June and September 2024 focused on the areas of Khost, Kunar, Bajaur, Khyber, and North Waziristan, which are known for active smuggling routes. The study found that while prices in Pakistan remained relatively stable, the price of NATO-pattern weapons in Afghanistan fluctuated, particularly in areas like Khost and Nangarhar, where prices were higher due to increased demand from armed groups such as the TTP and the Haqqani Network.

In regions like Durbaba in Nangarhar, close to the Pakistani border, M4 rifles were sold for $3,722, significantly more expensive than the same weapon in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan, where it could be bought for between $3,325 and $3,700. The prices of AK-pattern rifles and RPG launchers, however, remained more stable, with slight fluctuations observed during the monitoring period.

While the Taliban’s restrictions on civilian arms possession appear to have had little impact on the availability of weapons in informal markets, the ongoing stability in arms prices in Pakistan is attributed to a combination of factors.

Local arms dealers are reportedly taking precautions to avoid detection by authorities, refraining from openly displaying NATO weapons to avoid seizures. This has led to some price stability in Pakistan, despite the backdrop of ongoing insurgent activities and counterterrorism operations such as Pakistani’s “Azm-e-Istehkam”.

A deeper look at the prices in Afghanistan and Pakistan reveals several important trends. In Afghanistan, regions like Khost and Nangarhar, which have strong militant presences, tend to have the highest prices for NATO-pattern weapons, including M4s and M16s. This may be due to the demand from armed groups operating in these regions. Conversely, in areas like Paktika and Paktia, the prices are lower, suggesting these regions may have better access to weapons or face less intense demand.

The disparity in prices between Afghanistan and Pakistan is also linked to differences in supply chains, local market conditions, and the influence of various armed groups.

For example, the Haqqani Network’s control over Khost and its smuggling routes contributes to higher prices in the region, as weapons are diverted for militant use.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Friday upheld President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment over his disastrous martial law declaration, voting unanimously to strip him of office for violating the constitution.

Yoon, 64, was suspended by lawmakers over his December 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule, which saw armed soldiers deployed to parliament. He was also arrested on insurrection charges as part of a separate criminal case.

His removal triggers fresh presidential elections, which must be held within 60 days.

“Given the serious negative impact and far-reaching consequences of the respondent’s constitutional violations… (We) dismiss respondent President Yoon Suk Yeol,” said acting court President Moon Hyung-bae.

The decision was unanimous by all eight of the court’s judges, who have been given additional security protection by police with tensions high and pro-Yoon supporters rallying in the streets.

Yoon’s actions “violate the core principles of the rule of law and democratic governance, thereby undermining the constitutional order itself and posing a grave threat to the stability of the democratic republic,” the judges said in their ruling.

Yoon’s decision to send armed soldiers to parliament in a bid to prevent lawmakers from voting down his decree “violated the political neutrality of the armed forces and the duty of supreme command.”

He deployed troops for “political purposes”, the judges said, which “caused soldiers who had served the country with the mission of ensuring national security and defending the country to confront ordinary citizens.”

“In the end, the respondent’s unconstitutional and illegal acts are a betrayal of the people’s trust and constitute a serious violation of the law that cannot be tolerated from the perspective of protecting the Constitution,” the judges ruled.

Impeached

Yoon is the second South Korean leader to be impeached by the court after Park Geun-hye in 2017.

After weeks of tense hearings, judges spent more than a month deliberating the case, all while public unrest swelled.

Police raised the alert to the highest possible level Friday, enabling the deployment of their entire force. Officers encircled the courthouse with a ring of vehicles and stationed special operations teams in the vicinity.

Anti-Yoon protesters cried, cheered and screamed as the verdict was announced. Some jumped and shook each other’s hands in joy, while others hugged people and cried.

Outside Yoon’s residence, his supporters shouted and swore, with some bursting into tears as the verdict was announced.

Yoon, who defended his attempt to subvert civilian rule as necessary to root out “anti-state forces”, still commands the backing of extreme supporters.

At least two staunch Yoon supporters — one in his 70s and the other in his 50s — have died after self-immolating in protest of the controversial leader’s impeachment.

Embassies — including the American, French, Russian and Chinese — have warned citizens to avoid mass gatherings in connection with Friday’s verdict.

The decision shows “first and foremost the resilience of South Korean democracy,” Byunghwan Son, professor at George Mason University, told AFP.

“The very fact that the system did not collapse suggests that the Korean democracy can survive even the worst challenge against it — a coup attempt.”

‘Highly unlikely’ to reinstate

South Korea has spent the four months since Yoon declared martial law without an effective head of state, as the opposition impeached Yoon’s stand-in — only for him to be later reinstated by a court ruling.

The leadership vacuum came during a series of crises and headwinds, including an aviation disaster and the deadliest wildfires in the country’s history.

This week, South Korea was slammed with 25% tariffs on exports to key ally the United States after President Donald Trump unveiled global, so-called reciprocal levies.

Since December, South Korea has been “partially paralysed — it has been without a legitimate president and has been challenged by natural disasters and the political disaster called Trump,” Vladimir Tikhonov, Korean Studies professor at the University of Oslo, told AFP.

Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial on charges of insurrection over the martial law bid.

WASHINGTON: The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is under investigation after using the messaging app Signal to discuss plans for airstrikes on Yemen, raising questions over security and protocol.

In a memorandum addressed to Hegseth, the Inspector General’s office said it would examine whether Hegseth’s use of Signal met Defence Department guidelines, including those related to classified information.

Hegseth has repeatedly said no classified information was revealed in the chat, even though it included precise times for the launch of US airstrikes and some targeting details that are regarded as closely guarded secrets ahead of a surprise military operation like the one in Yemen.

The details of the chat were revealed last week by The Atlantic magazine after its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly included in the conversation, causing an embarrassing incident involving all of President Donald Trump’s most senior national security officials.

The case has also renewed scrutiny of Hegseth, who only narrowly won Senate confirmation after a bruising review that raised serious questions about his experience, temperament, and views on women in combat.

“The objective of this evaluation is to determine the extent to which the Secretary of Defence and other DoD personnel complied with DoD policies and procedures for the use of a commercial messaging application for official business,” wrote Steven Stebbins, the acting Inspector General.

“Additionally, we will review compliance with classification and records retention requirements.”

Hegseth texted about plans to kill a Houthi militant leader in Yemen two hours before the military operation started and included precise details about when F-18 fighter jets, as well as sea-based cruise missiles, would launch.

‘Cean on OPSEC’

Hegseth’s text started with the title “TEAM UPDATE” and included these details, according to The Atlantic:

“TIME NOW (1144 ET): Weather is FAVOURABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch”

“1215 ET: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)”

“1345: ‘Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME – also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)”

“1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)”

“1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger Based’ targets)”

“1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched.”

Toward the end of the text chain, Hegseth said the mission was “clean on OPSEC”—an acronym for operational security—touting no leaks, even though the reporter was on the text chain.

If Houthi leaders knew a strike was coming, they might have been able to flee, possibly to crowded areas where targeting is more difficult, and the number of potential civilian casualties might be deemed too high to proceed.

The top Democrat on the Senate’s Pentagon oversight committee, Jack Reed, said a leak could have put US pilots at risk.

“The potentially deadly consequences from Secretary Hegseth’s blunder are chilling,” Reed said in a statement.

“Had the intelligence in his chat messages been obtained by the Houthis or another adversary, it would have allowed them to reposition weapons to target our pilots with dangerously accurate intelligence.”

In a sign of the sensitivities, the US military’s Central Command has provided far fewer details to the public than usual about its ongoing operations in Yemen, including basic information like the number of strikes so far.

Asked about details on the campaign, which began on 15 March, a defence official—providing a written response on condition of anonymity—told Reuters:

“CENTCOM won’t provide details on strikes until the operation has concluded and there is no additional risk to US personnel or assets involved.”

Stebbins, the acting Inspector General, said the review would take place in Washington, DC, as well as at Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

“We request that you designate two points of contact for this evaluation within five days,” he wrote in the memo, which was also addressed to Hegseth’s deputy, Steve Feinberg.

While it is rare for the Inspector General to investigate a US Defence Secretary, the office most recently probed Hegseth’s predecessor, President Joe Biden’s Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, over his secret hospitalisation last year.

Stebbins became the acting Inspector General in January after Trump fired the previous head of the Defence Department’s independent watchdog and other agency watchdogs across the government during his first week in office.