WASHINGTON, D.C.: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday accepted responsibility for failing to disclose a recent hospitalization, following reports that even top White House officials and President Joe Biden were in the dark that he was ill and unable to carry out his duties.

The Pentagon waited until Friday evening to announce that Austin, 70, had been hospitalized four days prior 'for complications following a recent elective medical procedure' — a breach of standard protocol at a time when the United States is embroiled in the Middle East crisis.