Signal chat leak: Read the transcript of US attack plans shared with The Atlantic journalist by Trump officials
ByHT News Desk
Mar 27, 2025 07:52 AM IST
The Atlantic published a report on Wednesday saying it had come to believe that “people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions".
The Atlantic magazine published the actual transcript of US attack plans on the Houthi rebels in Yemen shared by high-ranking officials even as the Trump administration sought to downplay the scandal, with the US president himself dismissing the issue as a “witch hunt” against his National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
US President Donald Trump listens as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 21, 2025.(AFP file)
US President Donald Trump listens as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 21, 2025.(AFP file)
US attack plans were revealed as the magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to a chat group on the commercially available Signal messaging app by Waltz. He downplayed the reveal in a post on X, “No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS.” he wrote.
The reveal came on Wednesday after White House continued to insist that no classified details were revealed and attacked Goldberg as a “liar”. Its story Wednesday said it had come to believe that “people should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions.”
ALSO READ |‘It was a mistake, but…': Tulsi Gabbard as Trump officials grilled over leaked US military plan on Signal
The chat included key figures of the Trump administration including Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard.
Here are excerpts of the transcript:
Goldberg received an invitation to the group chat from Waltz on March 11, and he said it turned active on March 15 -the day of the US attack on the Houthis in Yemen.
11:44 am EST: “TEAM UPDATE,” Hegseth posted an update.
Hegseth wrote, “TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch.”
Hegseth's text continued as follows:
“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 FIRSTBOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger Based’targets)”
“1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-basedTomahawks launched.”
“MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline)”
“We are currently clean on OPSEC" * “Godspeed to our Warriors.”
OPSEC refers to operational security, which means ensuring safety and security of an operation is not violated ahead of its execution, Reuters reported.
1:48 pm: “VP. Building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID. Pete, Kurilla, the IC, amazing job.”
IC refers to the Intelligence Community. Kurilla refers to Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the head of US Central Command which heads military operations in the Middle East.
Vance replied, “What?”
Waltz responded at 2 pm, “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.”
“Excellent,” Vance replied.
Thirty-five minutes later, Ratcliffe, the CIA director, wrote, “A good start,” to which Waltz replied with a text containing a series of emojis –a fist, an American-flag emoji, and a fire emoji.
Hegseth posted later that afternoon: “CENTCOM was/is on point.”
“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,” he added.
(With Reuters inputs)
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