my $entry = 'permit ip host 10.11.1.1 192.168.100.0 0.0.0.255'; while ($entry =~ /(?:host){0}\s+(\d+\.\d+\.\d+\.\d+)\s+(\d+\.\d+\.\d+\.\d+)/g){ # do something with $1 and $2 } #### 10.11.1.0 0.0.0.255 192.168.100.0 0.0.0.255