Austin ordered strikes from hospital where he continues to get prostate cancer care, Pentagon says

WASHINGTON — From his hospital room, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin first orchestrated and then watched in real time as the U.S. retaliatory strike against Yemen-based Houthi militants took place Thursday night.

Austin’s leadership in the hospital room was the latest in a series of actions the defense chief has taken from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he is recovering from complications from prostate cancer treatments. Austin only revealed he had prostate cancer on Tuesday – the same day the Houthis launched their most aggressive attack yet of 18 drones and missiles on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea. That attack that set the stage for Thursday’s military operation.

Austin is now on his twelfth day of hospitalization at Walter Reed and the Pentagon does not know when he will be released.

On Friday, President Joe Biden said it was an error of judgment for Austin to keep his hospitalization and prostate cancer diagnosis a secret, but said he still has confidence in the Pentagon chief.

In the days since, Austin transformed his room into a secure communications suite. He called top military leaders, spoke with the president, considered options and later ordered the strikes, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Friday.

The layout of Austin’s hospital room resembles that of when he’s on the road, with full security and communications teams escorting him with all the secure, classified equipment needed to keep him connected. Austin’s assistants and support staff are also with him all week at Walter Reed.

So on Tuesday, as the Houthis launched eighteen one-way drones and anti-ship missiles, Austin watched the attacks and the US and UK response by intercepting these drones in real time via secure video, as did the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General CQ Brown. and the head of US Central Command, General Erik Kurilla. The three remained in contact in recent days and held regular telephone conversations with the National Security Council.

The Houthis’ attack on Tuesday came after the US and a host of international partners had already issued an ultimatum to cease attacks or face dire consequences.

Shortly after that attack, Austin advised the White House that military action was necessary. On Thursday, President Joe Biden approved the response and ordered a strike in Austin.

That evening, from his hospital room, Austin again monitored real-time operations, this time the attacks he had ordered. Brown also watched via secure communications from his official residence, where he had hosted a reception, a U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been publicly released.

Shortly afterwards, Austin issued a statement on the operation, which involved F/A-18 fighter jets and E-2C Hawkeye radar planes launched from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, US Air Force fighter jets, a US submarine and several other US and British aircraft. ships firing more than 150 missiles at 28 locations involving more than 60 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

After the strikes, Austin met with the National Security Council, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the head of U.S. Central Command for an initial post-attack assessment. While the Pentagon has not released a damage assessment, several officials have said they believe the Houthis’ ability to carry out another round of ship attacks has been compromised.

Austin has been in the hospital since Jan. 1, when an ambulance took him to Walter Reed. The defense minister was conscious at the time, but in severe pain, and was admitted to intensive care. An operation he had on December 22 to tackle his prostate cancer had resulted in an infection, including a build-up of abdominal fluid, and this had to be drained by placing a tube through his nose to empty his stomach. For days, few knew he was in the hospital or intensive care unit — the White House did not learn he was at Walter Reed until Jan. 4.

Austin’s delays in disclosing his prostate cancer and his hospitalization have roiled the administration, the Pentagon and Congress. Pentagon officials have repeatedly said that Austin has been carrying out his duties over the past week, even while in the hospital.

Speaking to reporters Friday as he toured local businesses outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, Biden said “yes” when asked if it was an error in judgment if Austin didn’t tell him about his condition. He replied, “Yes,” when asked if he still had confidence in Austin’s leadership.

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Seung Min Kim reported from Emmaus, Pennsylvania.