WASHINGTON: US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalised earlier this week because of problems from a medical process, the Pentagon mentioned Friday (Jan 5), at a time when Washington is dealing with a growing crisis in the Middle East.
Austin was admitted to Walter Reed Nationwide Army Medical Heart on the night of Jan 1 “for problems following a latest elective medical process”, Pentagon Press Secretary Main Common Pat Ryder mentioned in a press release, with out offering particulars on the problems or the period of the hospital keep.
“He’s recovering effectively and is anticipating to renew his full duties in the present day,” Ryder mentioned.
The Pentagon had not beforehand introduced that Austin was hospitalised.
The secretary’s hospitalisation comes with tensions hovering within the Center East because of the Israel-Hamas battle, with Iran-backed forces in Yemen placing delivery lanes whereas others in Iraq and Syria are attacking US troops with rockets and drones.
On Thursday, the US carried out a strike that killed an Iran-backed commander in Baghdad whom the army accused of involvement in assaults on American forces, infuriating the Iraqi authorities.
“Always, the Deputy Secretary of Protection (Kathleen Hicks) was ready to behave for and train the powers of the secretary, if required,” Ryder mentioned.
A Protection Division spokesperson later informed AFP that the deputy secretary “is robotically authorised to carry out the duties of the secretary if he’s unable to carry out them”, and that “she did make some routine selections on his behalf this week”.
Austin was conscious of the Baghdad strike, the spokesperson mentioned, including that the secretary and US President Joe Biden had beforehand authorised the motion.
