U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a text message detailing the planned timing of an airstrike on a Houthi militant in Yemen, according to a screenshot published by The Atlantic on Wednesday. The message also outlined multiple waves of U.S. strikes on March 15.
Hegseth has denied sharing sensitive military plans as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to manage the fallout. The revelation came after The Atlantic‘s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, disclosed that he had been included in a Signal group chat alongside Trump’s top national security officials coordinating the offensive in Yemen.
The administration insists no classified information was shared, a claim that has drawn skepticism from Democratic lawmakers and former officials, who argue that targeting details are among the most sensitive aspects of military operations.
Goldberg, who initially withheld the chat’s details, published them Wednesday.
Leaked Messages Detail Strike Timeline
According to The Atlantic, Hegseth’s message, titled “TEAM UPDATE,” included:
- 11:44 ET – “Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch.”
- 12:15 ET – “F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package).”
- 13:45 ET – “‘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]).”
- 14:10 ET – “More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package).”
- 14:15 ET – “Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger-Based’ targets).”
- 15:36 ET – “F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched.”
- Final note: “We are currently clean on OPSEC. Godspeed to our Warriors.”
Fallout and Administration’s Defense
National security officials have access to classified communication channels for sensitive operations. CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified before the Senate that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz created the Signal chat for unclassified coordination. Waltz later took responsibility for the leak, stating:
“No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent.”
At the hearing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Ratcliffe deferred to Hegseth on whether the disclosed information was classified.
Hegseth dismissed concerns Tuesday night, saying: “Nobody’s texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.” He defended the air campaign, calling the strikes “devastatingly effective” and praising U.S. forces.
The Pentagon has not disclosed details about the Yemen operation, including the number of strikes conducted, key targets, or even an official name for the mission.
