The Atlantic released a Signal chat Wednesday showing Trump Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed precise timing of U.S. airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthis before aircraft were airborne. The messages included warplane launch times and bomb drop windows — details current and former officials say would typically be classified.
Despite the sensitivity of the information, the Signal chat was unclassified and included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied classified details were shared, while Hegseth, currently traveling in the Indo-Pacific, dismissed questions, saying he didn’t reveal “war plans.”
In the chat, Hegseth wrote:
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“1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)”
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“1345: ‘Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts… MQ-9s Launch”
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“1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)”
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“1415: Strike Drones on Target (…FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP…)”
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“1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched”
He added, “We are currently clean on OPSEC” and “Godspeed to our Warriors.”
Signal is encrypted but not approved for classified use. The Pentagon warned of Russian hacking threats to the app the day before the strikes.
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