Israel’s new push against Iran, Operation Rising Lion, is making headlines for more than its military aims. The title seems to hold significant historical and psychological connotations. Israeli officials and media say the operation title brings back the imperial “Lion and Sun” symbol that was once at the heart of Iranian national identity.
The symbol, referred to in Persian as Shir o Khorshid, was abolished following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israel apparently is applying it today in order to send a message that transcends battlefield tactics.
Name with Roots in Iran’s Monarchy
The Lion and Sun symbol was a defining emblem of Iran during the Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties. It symbolised monarchy, Shi’a Islam, and national pride. The lion stood for strength and courage. The sun represented divine glory and power. For decades, it appeared on Iran’s national flag until revolutionary forces replaced it with the Islamic Republic’s religious insignia.
By alluding to discarded monarchy symbolism, Israel evokes an era prior to the Islamic regime. The action can be regarded as provocative and persuasive—a psychological attempt to disturb Iran’s rulers while appealing to parts of the Iranian people that have nostalgic sentiment toward the monarchy.
Official Israeli Messaging Adds to Symbolism
On Tuesday, the official Persian-language X account of Israel heightened the symbolism. It tweeted imagery evoking the Lion and Sun and the Persian text: “The rise of the lions for the victory of light over darkness.” It was no arbitrary phrase.
It explicitly echoed royalist motifs and cast Israel as the power of light against what it perceives as the darkness of today’s regime in Tehran.
Strategy Beyond the Battlefield
Though Israel has not officially elaborated on the operation’s title, experts observe a definite psychological aspect. Operation Rising Lion does not merely target Iran’s military might. It also hits at its ideological roots, reminding the regime of its lost royal legacy and illuminating internal divisions.
Essentially, Israel is employing history as a weapon—one that can trigger just as much empathy as bombs.
