The Atlantic Releases Entire Signal Chat Showing Hegseth’s Detailed Attack Plans Against Houthis

Introduction to the Incident

The Atlantic released the entire Signal chat among Trump senior national security officials Wednesday, showing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided the exact timing of warplane launches and when bombs would drop — before the men and women flying those attacks against Yemen’s Houthis this month on behalf of the United States were airborne.

Background and Reactions

The disclosure follows two intense days during which Trump’s seniormost Cabinet members, heads of his intelligence and defense agencies, have struggled to explain how details that current and former U.S. officials have said would have been classified wound up on an unclassified Signal chat that included Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said no classified information was posted to the Signal chat. Hegseth has refused to say whether he posted classified information on Signal. He is traveling in the Indo-Pacific and to date has only scoffed at questions, saying he did not reveal “war plans.”

Official Statements

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that it was up to Hegseth to determine whether the information he was posting was classified or not. What was revealed was jaw-dropping in its specificity and includes the type of information that is kept to a very close hold to protect the operational security of a military strike.

Details of the Signal Chat

In the group chat, Hegseth posted:
“1215et: 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.”
“MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline)”
“We are currently clean on OPSEC” — that is, operational security.
“Godspeed to our Warriors.”

Security Concerns and Publication

Goldberg has said he asked the White House if it opposed publication and that the White House responded that it would prefer he did not publish. Signal is a publicly available app that provides encrypted communications, but it can be hacked. It is not approved for carrying classified information. On March 14, one day before the strikes, the Defense Department cautioned personnel about the vulnerability of Signal, specifically that Russia was attempting to hack the app, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Vulnerabilities of Signal

One known vulnerability is that a malicious actor, with access to a person’s phone, can link his or her device to the user’s Signal and essentially monitor messages remotely in real time. This poses significant security risks, especially when discussing sensitive information such as military operations.

Ongoing Legal Issues

Leavitt is one of three Trump administration officials facing a lawsuit from the Associated Press on 1st and 5th Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Conclusion

The release of the Signal chat by The Atlantic has raised serious questions about the handling of classified information by senior Trump administration officials. The specifics of the military operation against the Houthis, shared in real-time, could compromise operational security and potentially put lives at risk. The incident also highlights the vulnerabilities of using unapproved communication platforms for sensitive discussions.

FAQs

• Q: What was released by The Atlantic?
  • A: The entire Signal chat among Trump senior national security officials showing detailed plans for an attack against Yemen’s Houthis.
• Q: Who provided the information in the Signal chat?
  • A: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
• Q: What kind of information was shared?
  • A: The exact timing of warplane launches and when bombs would drop.
• Q: Is Signal approved for classified information?
  • A: No, Signal is not approved for carrying classified information and can be hacked.
• Q: What are the implications of this incident?
  • A: The incident raises concerns about the handling of classified information and operational security, potentially putting lives at risk.