A recent Signal chat leak involving senior officials from the Trump administration has sparked serious backlash — not only in the U.S., but also in Israel. According to CBS News, Israeli intelligence officials are furious because the leaked conversation reportedly included sensitive intelligence they had shared with the United States.
The information came from a human source in Yemen, and although the effectiveness of the U.S. airstrike was not compromised, the source’s identity may have been exposed.
What Happened in the Signal Group Chat?
Earlier this month, members of the Trump administration’s National Security Council were part of a Signal group chat discussing a planned U.S. airstrike on Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.
- Mike Waltz, Trump’s National Security Adviser, reportedly created the chat and mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who later published parts of the conversation in The Atlantic.
- The group included senior figures like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
In one message, Hegseth described a “trigger-based” airstrike, indicating the attack would only happen once the target was positively identified.
Sensitive Intelligence Shared by Israel
According to CBS sources, Israel had shared the intelligence—originally obtained through human sources in Yemen—with the U.S. to support the strike. This confidential information, though not explicitly named in the chat, could now be linked back to the source through context.
“Even if the publication didn’t include everything, the damage may already be done,” one U.S. intelligence official said.
Israeli officials reportedly complained to Washington after the leak. So far, there has been no official comment from either the Israeli Embassy or the U.S. National Security Council.
How the Strike Unfolded
On March 15, Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets launched from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, while MQ-9 Reaper drones took off from bases in the Middle East. These were precision strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Waltz later messaged the group saying the mission was successful. He confirmed the “top missile guy” was inside a building that was destroyed, and that U.S. forces had “positive ID” of the target.
Officials Say No Classified Info Was Shared — Others Disagree
Facing criticism, several officials, including Waltz and Gabbard, claimed:
“No sources, methods, locations, or war plans were shared.”
However, U.S. intelligence and military sources argue that any operational details, even if unclassified, must be treated as sensitive and should not be shared over apps like Signal.
The NSA had even warned staff weeks earlier not to use Signal or WhatsApp for anything beyond basic recall messages. An internal NSA bulletin also advised against making connections with unknown contacts on such platforms.
Fallout and Political Impact
This leak comes at a sensitive time, as President Trump is reportedly frustrated by the situation and is closely monitoring media reports. Sources say he has been venting privately about the embarrassment it has caused.
Some officials worry this may damage U.S.-Israel intelligence sharing, especially if Israel feels its confidential data is not being handled responsibly.
During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Gabbard repeated that the messages were not classified, but later admitted they were “sensitive.” This has raised further questions about judgment and security practices within the top levels of government.
The Signal chat leak involving Trump administration officials has now turned into an international issue, with both operational security and foreign partnerships at risk. Whether the messages were technically “classified” or not, experts agree that such discussions should never happen on non-government platforms.
More importantly, the situation shows the need for stronger cybersecurity rules and better training at the highest levels of power — especially when lives and global alliances are involved.