Morning news brief: Massive Houthi attack, Austin's secretive cancer hospitalisation, & more

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Tel Aviv and held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials amid intense fighting and civilian casualties in Gaza. Follow WION's LIVE blog on the Israel-Hamas war to get all the latest updates.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalised after complications arising from prostate cancer surgery, according to statements from doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.

In other news, the United Nations said that Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based terrorist and mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, is serving a 78-year sentence in a Pakistani prison.

With the Hamas war dragging on and crossfire continuing between Israel and Lebanon-backed Hezbollah, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Tel Aviv and addressed the challenges of a potential spillover of the war in the region. Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials against the backdrop of intense fighting and civilian casualties in Gaza.

The 70-year-old US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was admitted to intensive care due to complications arising from prostate cancer surgery, according to statements from doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, media reports said. A minor surgery was conducted on December 22 after early detection through routine screening and Austin returned home the next day.

Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan-based terrorist and mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks is serving a 78-year-imprisonment sentence in a Pakistani prison, the United Nations said in its updated information.

Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun on Tuesday (Jan 9) took responsibility for a near-catastrophic mid-air incident which occurred in Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX 9 and vowed "complete transparency" as the aviation giant tried to pivot from its latest crisis.