Israel Expands Strikes Across Lebanon Following Capture of Strategic Ali Al Taher Ridge

The Israeli military launched an overnight bombing campaign in Lebanon outside its designated security zone, following the announcement that it had cleared Hezbollah fighters from the strategic Ali Al Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. This development has further strained the fragile ceasefire in the region.

According to a preliminary toll from Lebanon's Health Ministry, the strikes resulted in five deaths and 24 injuries across five locations in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa, marking the first time the area has been hit since June. In the Nabatieh district, two people died when an Israeli strike targeted a motorcycle. Another strike on a house in Ramadiyeh, located in the Tyre district, caused one death and 15 injuries, which included six paramedics, three women, and two girls. Additional strikes impacted Mayfadoun and Zawtar in southern Lebanon, as well as the area near Ain Al-Tineh in the western Bekaa Valley, as reported by the state-run National News Agency. Early Saturday, Israeli forces also shelled the Wadi Al Salouqi and Wadi Al Hujeir areas.

In response, Hezbollah issued a statement condemning Israel for continuing its aggression and crimes, which involve shelling, destruction, and the systematic demolition of homes and villages. Later on Saturday, reports emerged of home detonations in Bint Jbeil, situated a short distance from the Israeli border. The Iran-backed group urged the Lebanese state to reassess its calculations as the government advances plans to disarm all non-state actors, including Hezbollah.

This escalation follows Israel's declaration that it has assumed operational control of the Ali Al Taher ridge, a key flashpoint in the ongoing conflict despite the June ceasefire. Israel previously stated that Hezbollah fighters were positioned in tunnels beneath the ridge, which overlooks a broad territory. Hezbollah had earlier denied the presence of Iranian personnel and sought to minimize the strategic importance of the ridge.

Experts have connected Israel's intensified actions in Lebanon to the upcoming October elections, noting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party faces a challenging race following a drop in popularity since October 7, 2023. Karim Emile Bitar, a Middle East expert at Sciences Po Paris, told The National that the fighting is driven largely by Israeli political dynamics rather than the ridge's military value alone, noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks visual evidence of captured tunnels or surrendered members to boost his electoral prospects.

Nasser Khdour, Middle East assistant research manager at ACLED, noted that the surge in violence occurs at a politically sensitive time for Israel, with the government pushing to resume military operations that were previously halted by the ceasefire and diplomatic efforts.

Military expert and retired Brig Gen Mounir Shehadeh warned that the capture of the ridge carries the risk of further territorial expansion into Lebanon. He emphasized that the primary danger is that control of Ali Al Taher could evolve from a limited operation into a gradual pattern of territorial expansion beyond the self-proclaimed security line covering about 7 per cent of Lebanon, an occupation widely condemned by the international community as illegal.

Reuters reported that Iran had warned the US last month of a forceful retaliation against any Israeli attack on positions held by its Hezbollah allies on the ridge. Brig Gen Shehadeh stated that the likelihood of increased violence depends on whether Israel consolidates its position or uses the hill as a launching pad to advance into new areas, which presents a significant risk of broader escalation.