Was Rising Lion's history in Iran behind Netanyahu naming Israel's operation?

Israel’s latest military offensive against Iran, named “Operation Rising Lion” has drawn attention not only for its strategic objectives but also for its symbolic messaging, particularly its historical resonance with Iran’s monarchical past.

According to Israeli media reports confirmed by officials, the name was chosen to echo the “Lion and Sun” emblem. This centuries-old symbol represented Iran during the Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties. Known in Persian as Shir o Khorshid, the emblem featured prominently on Iran’s national flag until the Islamic Revolution of 1979, when it was replaced by a new insignia aligned with the Islamic Republic’s ideological identity.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Israel’s official Persian-language account appeared to underscore the symbolic intent behind the operation’s name. The post featured imagery referencing the imperial Lion and Sun emblem associated with Iran’s former Pahlavi dynasty, accompanied by the Persian caption: “The rise of the lions for the victory of light over darkness.”

More from World

What is bunker buster bomb that Israel needs from US to destroy Iran’s nuclear sites? In Graphics | What are Iran's key nuclear sites? What can destroy them?

خیزش شیران برای پیروزی نور بر تاریکی. pic.twitter.com/73Wp1gh2LI

— اسرائیل به فارسی (@IsraelPersian) June 17, 2025

The emblem historically combined the lion symbolising strength and courage, with the sun, representing power and divine glory. It became emblematic of the Persian monarchy and Shi’a Islam, before being discarded by the post-revolutionary regime.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

By referencing this lost royal iconography, Israeli officials appear to be sending a message that goes beyond military force. Analysts suggest that the operation’s name serves as psychological warfare, reminding Iran’s leadership of its pre-revolutionary identity and appealing, perhaps, to internal divisions between regime loyalists and those nostalgic for the monarchy.

While the Israeli government has not issued an official explanation, the choice of name is widely interpreted as a calculated move that infuses historical symbolism into an escalating conflict between two regional adversaries.