Israel-Hamas war: Pentagon spox says Secretary Austin in contact with Israel on a 'near daily basis'

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin walks down the steps of the Pentagon to greet Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on December 4, 2023 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder said on Tuesday that the Department of Defense is in contact with its Israeli counterparts on a "near daily basis."

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin actively discusses how the U.S. can assist Israel's security amid the war, Ryder said.

"I'm not going to get into the specifics other than to say, again, we consult closely with Israel Secretary Austin speaks his counterpart on a near daily basis," Ryder explained.

"And part of those discussions includes the kind of security assistance Israel needs to prevent a future terrorist attack in the future," he added.