The US, alongside other allies like the UK, launched retaliatory military strikes against Houthi rebels in the early hours of Thursday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

"Secretary Austin gave CENTCOM the order today to execute the strikes and monitored real-time with a full suite of secure communications capabilities," the defense official said, per CNN.

Austin, who oversees the Defense Department, was hospitalized on January 1 after developing complications from a procedure to treat prostate cancer on December 22, according to a statement from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center officials.

Austin's lack of transparency raised serious questions and prompted Democrat Chris Deluzio to call for his resignation.

On January 9 Austin also took part in a meeting with Brown and Kurilla "to monitor the Houthi's complex attack in maritime shipping lanes and the Operation Prosperity Guardian response," per the official.

This culminated in Austin's strike order on Thursday and an "initial post-strike assessment" with the National Security Council and others, the official said.

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