The War on Iran: One Operation, Two Names
An operation born out of weeks of threats and warnings, yet bearing two different names, each reflecting the signature of one of the parties involved.
On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched an offensive against Iran, following weeks during which Washington had threatened Tehran with military action and deployed forces to the Middle East for that purpose.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named the operation “Roar of the Lion,” the U.S. Department of Defense chose the designation “Epic of Wrath,” as announced on the platform X.
Israeli Channel 14 reported that the Israeli military had initially selected the name “Shield of Judah” for the operation before Netanyahu ultimately decided on “Roar of the Lion.”
Last year, Israel referred to its military operation against Iran as “Rising Lion,” while U.S. President Donald Trump described the American strike as “Midnight Hammer.”
In a statement, the Israeli military declared: “The Israeli army and the United States military have launched a large-scale joint operation aimed at delivering a deep blow to the Iranian terrorist regime and eliminating long-term existential threats to the State of Israel.”
It added that the strike “began with attacks on dozens of military targets and formed part of a broad, coordinated, and joint offensive against the regime.”
According to the statement, “the Iranian regime has not abandoned its plan to destroy Israel. In recent months, despite the setback it suffered during Operation Rising Lion, the Israel Defense Forces have identified continued efforts by the regime to fortify, protect, and conceal its nuclear program, alongside attempts to rebuild its missile production project.”
“The regime has also continued to fund, train, and arm its proxies positioned along Israel’s borders. These activities constitute an existential threat to the State of Israel and a threat to the Middle East and the entire world,” the statement continued.
It further noted that “in the months preceding the attack, close and joint planning between the Israeli and American militaries enabled the execution of this extensive offensive with the highest degree of integration and coordination.”
The military added that “the Israel Defense Forces, across all branches, conducted a prolonged state of readiness for battle, both defensively and in the preparation of various offensive plans.”
The Chief of Staff and senior commanders are currently conducting a situational assessment, while substantial forces are deployed defensively and remain prepared for offensive action on all fronts in the face of any adversary. The public has been urged to continue adhering to Home Front Command instructions.
For his part, Netanyahu stated in a televised address: “Israel and the United States have launched an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran. I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership.”
“Epic of Wrath”
The U.S. Department of Defense officially announced that the American-Israeli military campaign against Iran would be named “Epic of Wrath.”
Through its official account on X, the department published the operation’s emblem alongside the American flag, underscoring the formal and coordinated nature of the military move and confirming that the campaign has entered a declared phase following a period of preparation and gradual escalation.
The name carries both political and military implications, signaling Washington’s intent to project firmness and deterrence amid rising regional tensions.
Observers believe that choosing a name with an overtly offensive tone conveys a dual message: reassuring allies while issuing a direct warning to Tehran against continuing any activities Washington considers a threat to its own security or that of its partners.
The repeated use of striking symbolic names reflects a deliberate approach to managing the communication surrounding military operations, thereby amplifying both their military and political impact.
