Israeli authorities angry over Signal chat leak: Report

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Israeli authorities are upset about the Signal chat leak involving sensitive intelligence shared with the US regarding Houthi militants in Yemen. Although the publication didn’t impact the airstrike’s success, it revealed a human source, raising concerns over relations between the US and Israel.

Israeli authorities are angry over the Signal chat leak as it contained sensitive intelligence that Israel had shared with the US from a human source in Yemen, CBS News reported.

The Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, had shared the chat with senior Trump administration officials where he was “accidentally” added.

While not affecting the airstrike’s success due to the publication’s discretion, but still The Atlantic did expose a human source who provided intelligence to Israel, which was subsequently shared with the US for targeting purposes, according to a senior American intelligence official and someone familiar with Israel’s concerns.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday about Israeli complaints to US officials regarding Mike Waltz, President Trump’s national security adviser, who created the group chat and inadvertently included Goldberg. The group discussed potential strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, who have launched multiple missiles towards Israel and attacked shipping in the Red Sea.

On March 15, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sent messages to the principals committee group chat, comprising the highest-ranking National Security Council members, including Cabinet officials and other senior US representatives.

According to screenshots of the thread that The Atlantic published, Hegseth wrote:

“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)

A senior American intelligence official explained to CBS News that “Trigger Based” indicates an operation dependent on specific conditions – essentially a decision to proceed with an airstrike based on target confirmation.

That day, Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets departed from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, whilst MQ-9 Reaper drones launched from Middle Eastern bases. US Central Command announced commencing operations with “precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to restore freedom of navigation.”

Before the strike decision, Hegseth expressed support for the action to restore navigation freedom and re-establish deterrence, which he noted had diminished under the Biden administration.

After US airstrikes began, Waltz informed Vice President JD Vance via the chat that the building had collapsed and U.S. forces had “multiple positive ID” of their intended Houthi targets.

Waltz stated: “The first target — their top missile guy — we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend’s building and it’s now collapsed,” as reported by The Atlantic.

Despite criticism over the Signal chat, senior Trump administration officials maintain the information wasn’t classified and no sources or methods were compromised.

Waltz posted on X: “No locations. No sources & methods. No WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent.”

However, sources speaking to CBS News indicate Israeli intelligence is displeased about the disclosure of their provided intelligence. The potential consequences for U.S.-Israel relations remain uncertain.

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