In a significant moment highlighting the intricacies of U.S. military communications, prominent officials from the Trump administration, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, accidentally included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic in a confidential messaging group discussing military strategies against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis.

Goldberg's unintentional inclusion occurred on March 13, when he was invited to an encrypted chat on the Signal app named "Houthi PC small group." Within this group, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz directed his deputy, Alex Wong, to establish a "tiger team" aimed at orchestrating U.S. military responses to the Houthi threat.

Following this communication, President Donald Trump authorized a campaign of large-scale military strikes against the Houthis starting on March 15. This action was a direct response to the militia's recent attacks on Red Sea shipping, and Trump made it clear that Iran needed to cease its support for the Houthis immediately.

In the hours leading up to the strikes, Secretary Hegseth shared operational details, which included discussions on targets and the weapons to be deployed. The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the messaging group, noting, "We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain. The message thread is a testament to the careful and coordinated policy efforts of senior officials."

NSC spokesman Brian Hughes emphasized that the ongoing efforts against the Houthis were successful and did not pose any risk to U.S. servicemembers or national security. This incident reflects the dynamic nature of high-level communications and the commitment of the administration to address international security threats effectively.