Israel has named its military operation against Iran 'Rising Lion', inspired by a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at the attack after being photographed on Thursday putting a handwritten note into a crack of Jerusalem's Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site.
His office on Friday released a photo of the note, which said, "the people shall rise up as a lion".
The expression comes from verse 23:24 of the Book of Numbers in the Bible: "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 verse is part of the first oracle of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner, where he foretells the strength and power of Israel, comparing it to a lion that will not rest until it has satisfied its hunger.
Others have said the operation's name could be a reference to the son of the last Shah of Iran, due to the Persian royal family's use of the lion in their pageantry.
Israel's strikes on Iran killed top military, nuclear figures and scientists, striking key sites and residential areas, with its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling Israel's strikes "satanic".
Israel's claim of divine entitlement
Israel often pens biblical names or draws from religious inspiration for its military operations, which some say are used to reinforce their claim of divine entitlement to Palestinian land and justify its wars in the region.
The Israeli army called its operation targeting assets and capabilities of the Syrian military, "Operation Arrow of Bashan".
"Bashan" is a biblical term from the Old Testament that refers to the lands south of Syria and east of the Jordan River, which the Israelites conquered after defeating the king of Bashan.
As Israel continues to wage war on the Gaza Strip, Israel uses Biblical symbolism for its weaponry and operations.
Netanyahu has used the biblical Amalek narrative at least three times to invoke Israeli soldiers to attack Gaza.
In a statement on 28 October 2023, the prime minister quotes a verse from Deuteronomy 25:17: "Remember what Amalek did to you' (Deuteronomy 25:17). We remember and we fight", referring to the Amalekites from the biblical Book of Samuel.
The story calls for the Israelites to eliminate their attackers completely, and is deemed a violent theory that refers to entirely crushing the Gaza population.
During its genocide case against Israel, the South African team used Netanyahu's speech to incite genocide against the people of Gaza in its first hearing before the International Court of Justice.
The South African lawyer also said the prime minister repeated the narrative in another letter to Israeli soldiers on 3 November.
The army's AI systems used to aid its bombardment are called "Lavender" and "The Gospel", both of which are referenced in biblical scriptures.
According to Ravale Mohydin, Israeli weapons, such as the Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station, are often inspired by religious scripture.
The Jericho ballistic missiles are named after the West Bank city that was conquered by the Israelites from the Philistines, according to the Book of Joshua.
David's Sling is also a missile named after David's victory over Goliath in the book of Samuel.