The attack plan from the secret chat

The Atlantic publishes secret war plans from the chat group

Wayne Seretis

Updated 15.28 | Published 13.44

Donald Trump denies that the US's secret war plans were leaked in a chat group.

Now the journalist who was invited to the group chooses to publish the plans.

"The weather is favorable. Just confirmed by CENTCOM. We are ready to begin the operation." writes Defense Secretary Hegseth in the chat.

          

          Trump's words after the chat miss: "No need to apologize"
          0:42

The Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally invited to a top-secret chat group on the Signal app by Trump's national security adviser.

The group included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance.

A few hours before the US attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen on March 15, Hegseth shared the US plans for the attack.

After the leak was revealed, both Hegseth and President Trump have denied that secret information was shared in the group.

The Atlantic magazine therefore chose on Wednesday to publish the attack plans from the chat group, where the US Secretary of Defense shared the secret plans for the attack on the Houthi rebels.

According to Goldberg, Hegseth wrote at 11:44 local American time on March 15:

"The weather is favorable. Just confirmed by CENTCOM. We are ready to begin the operation."

Centcom is the US military command in the Middle East.

The first wave of attacks

He then goes into details of the first wave of attacks.

• “1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)”
• “1345: ‘Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts

Then Hegseth adds that the terrorist who is being targeted is at his known position and the attack should be on time.

The newspaper publishes large parts of the secret conversation in the Signal group, which was intended only for the highest US leadership.

Goldberg was invited by national security adviser Mike Waltz, who did not double-check who he invited.

In the chat group, Goldberg was also given the Trump administration’s unvarnished view of Europe.

“If you think we should go, then go. I just hate to bail out Europe again,” writes the signature JD Vance in the group.

Explosions are reported in Yemen’s capital Saana after the US attack. Photo: AP

Praying for victory

Hegseth agrees with Vance’s sentiment.

“I completely share your contempt for Europe’s free-riding. It’s pathetic.” , he writes.

On March 15, the signature Hegseth writes about the attack plans in Yemen, which Goldberg only chose to publish today.

The only one who responds is the signature JD Vance.

“I will pray for victory,” he writes.

Two other participants react with prayer emojis.

Two hours later, bombs begin to fall over Yemen, and Goldberg realizes that the group chat was authentic.

The journalist was exposed when he himself chose to leave the chat group for fear of violating US espionage laws.