The Atlantic Publishes Leaked Transcript of US Attack Plans on Houthis

The Atlantic has published the full transcript of US attack plans against Houthi rebels in Yemen, revealing details shared by high-ranking Trump administration officials. Despite the leak, the administration attempted to downplay the controversy, with President Trump dismissing it as a “witch hunt” against National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

The leak surfaced when Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, was added to a Signal group chat by Waltz. In response, Waltz sought to minimize the significance of the reveal, posting on X:
“No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS.”

The White House insisted that no classified details were exposed and denounced Goldberg as a “liar.” However, The Atlantic justified its decision to publish, stating:
“People should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions.”

Key Figures in the Leaked Chat

• Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
• Vice President JD Vance
• CIA Director John Ratcliffe
• National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard

Leaked Signal Chat Transcript

Goldberg was added to the chat on March 11, with activity intensifying on March 15, the day of the US airstrikes.

March 15 – Attack Timeline

🔹 11:44 AM EST – Hegseth: “TIME NOW (1144 ET): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch.”

🔹 12:15 PM – “F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package).”

🔹 1:45 PM – “Trigger-Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target confirmed at known location). Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s).”

🔹 2:10 PM – “More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package).”

🔹 2:15 PM – “Strike Drones on Target (FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger-Based’ targets).”

🔹 3:36 PM – “F-18 2nd Strike Starts – first sea-based Tomahawks launched. MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline).”

🔹 Hegseth: “We are currently clean on OPSEC. Godspeed to our Warriors.”
(OPSEC refers to operational security, ensuring mission safety.)

1:48 PM – Aftermath

Message: “VP. Building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID. Pete, Kurilla, the IC, amazing job.”
(IC = Intelligence Community, Kurilla = Army Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, head of US Central Command.)

🔹 Vance: “What?”

🔹 Waltz (2:00 PM): “Typing too fast. First target—their top missile guy—was positively ID’d walking into his girlfriend’s building. It’s now collapsed.”

🔹 Vance: “Excellent.”

🔹 Ratcliffe (2:35 PM): “A good start.”
🔹 Waltz: (Replies with 👊 🇺🇸 🔥 emojis)

🔹 Hegseth (Later in the afternoon): “CENTCOM was/is on point. Great job all. More strikes ongoing for hours tonight. Full initial report tomorrow. On time, on target, good readouts so far.”