'As A Lion Lifts Himself Up...': Netanyahu Left Note At Western Wall Before Striking Iran

Last Updated:June 13, 2025, 11:22 IST

The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel, is a sacred Jewish religious site located in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed a note in the Western Wall yesterday with the verse. (X)

Israel-Iran tensions: A day before launching “targeted strikes" at Iran nuclear sites, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed a note in the Western Wall with the verse, ‘People that rise up as a lioness, and as a lion lift themselves up’.

The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall or Kotel, is a sacred Jewish religious site located in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Israel on Friday launched what it called “pre-emptive strikes" on key Iranian military and nuclear installations. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that the “first stage" of its operation has been completed, with dozens of Israeli Air Force jets striking multiple locations across Iran.

Among the reported high-value targets were top military leaders and nuclear scientists, including Iran’s Army Chief Mohammad Bagheri. Iran state media also reported that several civilians, including women and children, were killed in airstrikes on residential areas of Tehran.

After the attack, Netanyahu said that the country’s attack on Iran would “continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat," Netanyahu said in a video statement, naming the operation “Rising Lion".

“We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme. We targeted Iran’s main enrichment facility at Natanz… We also struck at the heart of Iran’s ballistic missile programme," he said, adding that Israel had also hit Iranian nuclear scientists “working on the Iranian bomb".

Calling the offensive “Rising Lion," Israel said it was also targeting Iranian commanders and missile factories, and declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Tehran.

An Israeli security official said that Netanyahu and other top officials decided Monday that the operation would start today.

Israeli defense sources said that attacks on Iran will continue, and are expected to continue on an ongoing basis for days, reported Jerusalem Post.

Dozens of Israeli aircraft participated in an initial wave of strikes on dozens of military targets and Iranian nuclear sites early on Friday morning.

Israeli army chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, further warned the citizens to prepare for a potential Iranian response.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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News world 'As A Lion Lifts Himself Up...': Netanyahu Left Note At Western Wall Before Striking Iran