Why Israel named strikes against Iran 'Operation Rising Lion'? A Bible connection

Following the strikes on Iran, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that Operation Rising Lion "will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat".

Published on: Jun 13, 2025, 18:58:27 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Israel on Friday launched a series of massive strikes against Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military commanders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed the note, "the people shall rise up as a lion", in between the bricks of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, (Reuters)

The Israeli strikes killed Iran's top military officials, including the chief of staff of its armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's missile programme in Iran. Follow Israel-Iran strike live updates

Soon after the strikes on Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."

Why the name ‘Operation Rising Lion’?

Israel took the name 'rising lion' from a biblical verse, which promises the victory of the Israeli people.

The context grows clearer as Netanyahu was on Thursday photographed putting a handwritten note into a crack of Jerusalem's Western Wall, one of the holiest prayer sites in Judaism.

The Israeli PM's office released a photo of the note on Friday, which read: "the people shall rise up as a lion".

ALSO READ | Israel kills Iran's top military chiefs, strikes nuclear facility; Tehran says revenge ‘soon’ | Top points

The phrase comes from the Bible's Book of Numbers, verse 23:24. The verse says, "Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain."

This is a part of non-Israeli prophet and diviner Balaam's first oracle, in which he predicts the strength and power of Israel and compares it to a lion that will not rest until it has satisfied its hunger.

An Israeli official said that the military was ready to keep on going for days with the offensive, a move which would depend partly on Iran's response.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel's attack on Tehran as "satanic". He warned Jerusalem of "severe punishment".

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi described the attack as a "declaration of war".

(with Reuters inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.