The Meaning of 'Operation Rising Lion'

Plus: No Kings, Just Drama Queens

In Today’s BRIGHT

The Meaning of ‘Operation Rising Lion’
More Weekend Reads
No Kings, Just Drama Queens
Can AI Help Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle?
Mondays with Melania

The Meaning of ‘Operation Rising Lion’

Hot Air reported Israel has launched massive strikes on Iran, escalating into full-scale war after Iranian missile attacks on Israeli civilians. Now the fourth day, Iranian strikes on Israel added to the mounting casualties. CNN reported, “Overnight, Iran struck an Israeli oil refinery and damaged part of the power grid. In Israel, explosions were seen and residential buildings were hit.”

The campaign, Operation Rising Lion, signals a push not only to cripple Iran's military capacity but also to inspire domestic revolt. Prime Minister Netanyahu urged Iranians to overthrow the “genocidal regime,” invoking pre-revolutionary Persian symbolism.

Ed Morrissey of Hot Air wrote:

Even the symbolism Netanyahu chose speaks to regime change. The nominal reference in naming this war Operation Rising Lion is a quote from Numbers in calling the nation to arms. However, perhaps less appreciated is that Iranian flags prior to the mullahs featured a lion posing before the sun since the late Safavid era, starting in 1576. The Pahlavi shahs continued that tradition in their 54 years in power, but the mullahs threw out the leonine imagery when they seized power in the 1979 revolution.

"Operation Rising Lion" means something very specific to both Israelis and Iranians, and the Iranian people would likely recognize it. It's a call for both lions to rise up against the insane mullah cult that has subjugated a great people and is attempting to annihilate another great civilization. That regime attempted to kill the lion 46 years ago; Netanyahu is calling the lion to emerge now when the opportunity has finally come for it to reign.

Among the high-profile casualties from the weekend is Ali Shamkhani, a top aide to Ayatollah Khamenei. Additionally, the IDF struck missile launchers, oil refineries, nuclear sites, and IRGC-linked law enforcement, aiming to dismantle the regime’s military and economic infrastructure.

To help awaken the lion, Elon Musk activated Starlink in Iran so that information is flowing despite government blackouts.