Netanyahu placed a chilling quote at the Western Wall before launching Operation Rising Lion.

By Aniket Chakraborty June 20, 2025 Arrow

Just hours later, Israel bombarded Iran with 200+ warplanes in a surprise preemptive strike.

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The mission targeted Tehran, Natanz, Shiraz, and more—crippling key Iranian military sites.

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But the note he left sparked a different conversation: who exactly is the lion that will rise?

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Some believe Netanyahu hinted at the Iranian people rising against the regime, not just Israel.

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Voices in exile and analysts alike say Iran’s youth and opposition are already simmering.

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Operation Rising Lion has emboldened regime critics from Reza Pahlavi to the MeK abroad.

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Yet most opposition groups are fragmented, exiled, and labeled terrorists by Tehran.

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Experts warn: regime change isn’t guaranteed—military strikes don’t always end in collapse.

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As missiles fall, the real war may be within: will Iranians rise—or is chaos the next chapter?

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