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Atlantic reveals US attack plans discussed by Trump officials in Signal group chat
Joey GarrisonUSA TODAY
Published 9:26 a.m. ET March 26, 2025
WASHINGTON − The Atlantic magazine on Wednesday published the full text chain from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top Trump officials detailing operations to carry out U.S. military airstrikes in a Signal chat group with a reporter present after the White House denied "war plans" had been shared.
Among other details, Hegseth disclosed the timing of planned airstrikes by U.S. attack jets and armed drones on militant Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15, according to an account by The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Goldberg was inadvertantly added to a group chat, called "Houthi PC Small Group," where President Donald Trump's top national security officials discussed hitting Iran-backed Houthi sites.
The report includes screen shots of the group texts, which detail drone targets, sequencing of the attacks and the type of weaponry used.
According to a story published by Goldberg on Wednesday morning, Hegseth at 11:44 a.m. on March 15 ‒ about 30 minutes before the first airstrikes ‒ sent an update to the group that read: "TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch.”
Hegseth then detailed the timeline for the airstrikes in texts:
- “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.”
White House still argues no 'war plans' were discussed
Trump's White House on Tuesday continued to dispute the initial Atlantic report about "war plans" being discussed in the chat, noting that The Atlantic's headline describes the information as "attack plans," not war plans like Monday's initial story."The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT 'war plans,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin."
Waltz, in a statement on the release of the messages, said: "No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent. BOTTOM LINE: President Trump is protecting America and our interests."
Shorty after Hegseth's initial updates the day of the attack, according to The Atlantic, Vice President JD Vance texted the group, “I will say a prayer for victory.”
Waltz then provided updates on real-time conditions of the target sites, according to The Atlantic.
“VP. Building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID. Pete, Kurilla, the IC, amazing job," Waltz wrote, referring to Hegseth; General Michael E. Kurilla, the commander of Central Command; and the intelligence community, or IC.
Waltz later texted: "Typing too fast. The first target – their top missile guy – we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend’s building and it’s now collapsed.”
Waltz, Vance and CIA Director John Ratcliffe each took turns in the chat applauding the success of the operations.
Hegseth alerted group chat of more Yemen attacks to come
Later, Hegseth wrote: “CENTCOM was/is on point," before telling the group more strikes would be coming. “Great job all. More strikes ongoing for hours tonight, and will provide full initial report tomorrow. But on time, on target, and good readouts so far.”https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...vealed-trump-officials-war-plans/82668407007/