Israel’s military campaign against Iran, launched on June 13, 2025, named Operation Rising Lion, has emerged as a historic turning point in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The operation targeted Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, but its name, “Rising Lion,” has sparked global intrigue. Why did Israel select this name? The answer lies in a blend of biblical inspiration and a potential nod to Iran’s historic Lion and Sun symbol, making this operation far more than a military strike.
Operation Rising Lion: The Timeline
On the night of June 13, 2025, at 2:00 AM (IST), the Israeli Air Force (IAF) deployed F-35 stealth fighter jets and drones to strike Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile facilities in Natanz, Khondab, and Khorramabad. Mossad executed targeted killings of key figures, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Hossein Salami and several nuclear scientists. Concurrent cyberattacks disrupted Iran’s power grid and communication systems, crippling its ability to respond.
Israel claimed the operation set Iran’s nuclear program back by 5-7 years. In retaliation, Iran launched over 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems. However, some civilian casualties were reported in Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Netanyahu’s Address
On June 14, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video message directly addressing the Iranian people. He stated, “Our fight is not with you but with the tyrannical regime that has oppressed you for 46 years. The time has come for you to unite and bring about a new revolution. Operation Rising Lion has destroyed your regime’s nuclear and missile programs. The path to your freedom is now clear.”
Netanyahu accused the Iranian regime of squandering public resources on terrorism and weapons, urging the people to rise against it.
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Biblical Symbolism of Name
The operation’s name draws from the Book of Numbers (23:24), which reads: “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion.” This verse symbolizes Israel’s strength, courage, and triumph. Before the strikes, Netanyahu placed a note in Jerusalem’s Western Wall that read, “The people shall rise as a lion,” underscoring this religious inspiration. Israel frequently chooses biblically inspired names for its military campaigns, reflecting national pride and resolve.
Lion and Sun: Iran’s Historic Symbol
Another compelling dimension of the name may be its connection to Iran’s historic Lion and Sun symbol. This emblem, used from the 12th century until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, represented strength, pride, and prosperity. The lion symbolized courage and royal power, while the sun stood for wisdom and life. After the revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini replaced it with Islamic symbols, a move many Iranians view as an assault on their cultural identity.
Comparing Iran’s old and new flags highlights this shift. The removal of the Lion and Sun was seen by some as an erasure of Iran’s cultural heritage. Israel’s use of “Lion” in the operation’s name could be a strategic attempt to evoke Iran’s glorious past and inspire its people to revolt against the Islamic regime. The name resonates with Iran’s liberal and secular communities, who still associate the Lion and Sun with their national identity.
Analysts suggest this is a psychological tactic, aligning with Netanyahu’s call for a “new revolution” in Iran. By invoking the lion, Israel may be signaling support for Iranians seeking to reclaim their cultural and national pride.
