Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herst. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was

hospitalized at a military hospital for what a Pentagon spokesperson says is

complications from recent elective surgery.

But news of the hospitalization was released days after he went in.

In a statement today, he says he could have done a better job

ensuring people were properly informed.

He went into the hospital on Monday and it's not clear what the complications were.

Pressure on U.S. forces is increasing in Iraq where the government says it started to remove remaining US-led

forces from the country.

That move is linked to a US air strike in Baghdad after increasing attacks by Iran-backed

militias.

And Fiarist Jane Arraf has more.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Sudani

said he's setting a date for talks with U.S. officials

to permanently end the presence of U.S.

led troops in his country.

That's after a US strike in Baghdad this week killed a militia leader

accused of overseeing attacks on US forces.

The United States still has about 2,500 troops in Iraq to help the country fight ISIS.

But militias and some government leaders say their real reason is to contain Iran-linked groups.

Those militias say they've stepped up attacks on the US

in response to US military aid to Israel

...