Israeli Premier Netanyahu says priority is to 'clear out hostile forces'

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said his army's priority is to "clear out the hostile forces" after Palestinian group Hamas launched an operation earlier in the day.

"Our first objective is to clear out the hostile forces that infiltrated our territory and restore the security and quiet to the [Israeli] communities that have been attacked," Netanyahu said while addressing a Security Cabinet meeting.

He said the second objective is to "exact an immense price from the enemy, within the Gaza Strip as well" and the third "to reinforce other fronts so that nobody should mistakenly join this war."

"We are at war. In war, one needs to be level-headed. I call on all citizens of Israel to unite in order to achieve our highest goal – victory in the war," Netanyahu said.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, said it initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood with rockets targeting enemy sites, airports, and military installations.

In response, the Israeli army launched Operation Iron Swords, “initiating a large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack launched against Israel by Hamas.”

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh described the attack "heroic epic in response to Israel’s aggression against Al Aqsa” Mosque.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar