Israel widens Lebanon strikes after announcing control of strategic Ali Al Taher ridge

The Israeli military launched an overnight bombing campaign in Lebanon outside its self-declared security zone, hours after announcing it had cleared Hezbollah fighters from the strategic Ali Al Taher ridge. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the strikes killed five people and wounded 24 others across five locations, including the western Bekaa, marking the first such strike in that area since June. Casualties included paramedics, women, and children. Hezbollah condemned the strikes as an escalation of aggression and systematic destruction of homes, calling on the Lebanese state to reassess its position. Reports also indicated the detonation of homes in Bint Jbeil near the border. Analysts suggest the escalation is linked to upcoming Israeli elections, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to bolster his standing. Military experts, including retired Brig Gen Mounir Shehadeh, warned that the capture of the ridge could signal a shift from limited operations to a pattern of territorial expansion, increasing the risk of a broader conflict.