PM urges Israelis to stay 'calm and composed,' says country ready with 'defense and offense'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Tel Hashomer army recruitment base, meeting draftees to the IDF’s Armored Corps and Combat Engineering Corps, his office says.

“We are continuing forward to victory. I know that Israeli citizens are on alert, and I ask you one thing — stay calm and composed. We are prepared for both defense and offense, we are striking our enemies and are also determined to defend ourselves,” he told troops, according to the statement.

He expresses his pride in the soldiers, both those in the reserves and in the standing army, calling them the “backbone of the nation.”