The minister underwent minor surgery on December 22 as part of his treatment for prostate cancer, after being diagnosed with the disease earlier that month. He was allowed to go home the next day, but had to return on January 1 due to complications from the operation.
The highest US authorities, including Biden, were only informed about this a little later, which caused a stir in the US. The incident is also not convenient for the Democrats, now in full election season.
Earlier in the day, the White House had assured that the minister had been following the American-British attacks against the Houthi rebels in Yemen “from his hospital bed”. He was also involved in the preparations on Thursday, according to John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council of the United States.