WASHINGTON — Amid tensions in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and, among other things, spent four days in the intensive care unit, according to two senior administration officials.
The Pentagon did not inform senior officials on the White House National Security Council of Austin's hospitalization until Thursday – three days after his arrival at Walter Reed Medical Center, a US official confirmed. Politico first reported the delay.
Austin was hospitalized Monday evening due to “complications following a recent medical procedure,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Friday night.
Austin issued a statement Saturday taking responsibility for not disclosing his condition sooner.
“I am very happy to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon. I also understand the media's concerns about transparency and recognize that I could have done a better job ensuring the public was adequately informed. “I am committed to doing better,” Austin said. “But it's important to say: This was my medical procedure and I take full responsibility for my disclosure decisions.”
President Joe Biden spoke with Austin on Saturday evening, according to a senior administration official, who said it was the first phone call between the president and Austin since his hospitalization.
“It was a cordial conversation,” the senior administration official said. “The president wished him well in his recovery and said he looked forward to seeing the secretary back at the Pentagon soon.”
Austin has not been able to perform his duties since New Year's Day, a senior defense official said Friday. It was unclear when he would be released, the source said. Details about what was wrong with him were not available.
Ryder told NBC News that Austin “resumed full service” Friday evening. He remained hospitalized Saturday.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who was on leave, has resumed her duties, the senior defense official said.
According to a defense official, Hicks was on a pre-scheduled vacation when Austin was hospitalized this week. She was on vacation in Puerto Rico, the official said.
She “maintained full communication with Defense Department personnel throughout,” the official said. “She oversaw the daily operations of the Department of Defense and conducted some routine business.”
The third in the Pentagon's civilian leadership, the position of undersecretary of defense for policy, is temporarily filled as an acting post because nominee Derek Chollet was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the source said. Sasha Baker has been playing the role since last summer.
“The deputy secretary of defense has been prepared to act for and exercise the authority of the secretary of defense as needed at any time,” Ryder said in the statement.
Pentagon officials declined to describe Austin's condition or say what exactly prevented him from carrying out his duties this week.
The Pentagon also declined to provide details about the operation or when it was carried out, or whether Austin was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Asked why the Pentagon kept Austin's hospitalization secret, Ryder told NBC News, “This was an evolving situation where we had to consider a number of factors.”
That includes Austin's privacy, he said.
While Austin was hospitalized, the U.S. carried out a rare and controversial attack against a senior Iranian-backed militia member in Baghdad, bases housing Americans were attacked at least six times, and the Biden administration is considering options for attacking Houthis in response -Fighters to carry out their sustained attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
At the heart of tensions in the region is the war between Israel and Hamas. In response, the U.S. Navy deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean in October.
Iran-backed Houthi fighters based in Yemen, unhappy with Israel's attacks on Palestinian communities, have attacked container ships in the Red Sea.
On Dec. 30, a U.S. Navy destroyer fired two Houthi missiles after responding to an attack on a container ship that resulted in no injuries or damage, military officials said at the time. The next day, Houthi rebels fired on naval helicopters in response to a distress call from a container ship. The Navy fired back, sinking three small boats and killing the crews, officials said.
The US also fears further regional ties as Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon exchange ammunition with Israel along Lebanon's northern border.