Washington, 21 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The Pentagon has dismissed reports US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive military plans regarding a March attack on the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen in a message group that included his wife.

It is the second such incident involving Hegseth, who was criticized at the end of March for using the Signal app to discuss the same attack in a separate chat.

The New York Times and broadcaster CNN reported on Sunday that on this occasion Hegseth also shared the details via the encrypted messaging app.

The group was set up during Hegseth's confirmation hearing as a way for his allies to strategize, CNN reported. As well as his wife, who reportedly does not have a role at the Department of Defense, the group included his brother and lawyer, both of whom do have jobs at the Pentagon.

The New York Times reported Hegseth used his personal phone, rather than a government device, to access the Signal chat.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed the media reports, stating they were based on the "grievances of disgruntled former employees."

"The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda," he said in a statement.

"There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trump's agenda."

Leading opposition Democrat Chuck Schumer wrote on X that Hegseth had put lives at risk. "Pete Hegseth must be fired," he said.

At the end of March, US magazine The Atlantic published details of the strike in Yemen after its editor-in-chief said he was accidentally added to a Signal chat.

That chat included Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior government officials.

According to The Atlantic's editor Jeffrey Goldberg, the chat covered both military tactics and political messaging related to a planned strike against Houthi rebels.

President Donald Trump at the time refused to criticize the officials involved for using the app. The Pentagon's internal oversight is investigating how Hegseth used the app in regards to that incident.

MIA file photo