The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) has reported that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been transferred back to the hospital due to an “urgent bladder problem” and is now in intensive care.
Department spokesperson Pat Ryder stated in a press release yesterday that Austin has delegated his duties to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks. He added that Hicks will assume Austin’s responsibilities during his treatment period, confirming that the White House and Congress have been informed.
Hours earlier, the Pentagon announced that Austin had gone to the hospital with the necessary communication systems to carry out his designated and non-designated tasks.
Ryder further mentioned that Austin has never lost consciousness, has not been sedated, and his condition is gradually improving.
On January 5th of last year, the US Department of Defense announced that Austin had been hospitalized at the beginning of the month, sparking media criticism due to the delay in announcing the incident.
Delay in Announcement
Later on, it was revealed that prominent officials in the country, including President Joe Biden and Pentagon officials, were unaware of Austin’s hospitalization and only learned about it later on.
A Pentagon press liaison expressed concern about the delay in announcing this news, describing the delay as a “farce.”
Subsequently, some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, called for Austin’s dismissal from his position.
Austin told reporters on February 1st of this year that he should have informed the President about his cancer diagnosis. He mentioned that he is still in the recovery phase, experiencing leg pains, and needing to use a golf cart to move around the Pentagon.
On the other hand, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, in a press statement, confirmed that there are no plans to dismiss Austin from his position, emphasizing that Biden’s priority is the minister’s recovery from his illness.
These events unfold amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where US forces in Iraq and Syria are facing repeated attacks from armed groups supported by Iran in response to Washington’s continuous support for Israel.
