Haaretz says the Israeli army 'attacks' south Lebanese villages; An-Nahar calls it 'aggression' as Israel cuts its brigades from eight to six

What happened. Lebanon's state National News Agency reported Israeli shelling in Mansouri, Majdal Zoun and Wadi Hassan on the morning of 26 September. It also reported heavy explosions in Baraachit and Haddatha. Haaretz carried this at 07:25 UTC. That afternoon LBCI reported a new blast in Majdal Zoun and shelling of Haddatha.

The brigade cut. An-Nahar says Israeli Army Radio announced a cut from 8 brigades to 6 in south Lebanon. The army runs that station. No other report we hold gives the figure.

Same day, different words.

One reading of the cut. An-Nahar quotes one retired Lebanese brigadier, Bahaa Hallal. He says the cut shows Israel has finished its offensive phase, not that it is withdrawing. No Israeli voice explains it in any report we hold.

What is not settled. - Whether anyone was killed or hurt on 26 September. No report names or counts anyone. - Who caused the blasts in Haddatha and Majdal Zoun. Two reports name no one. - Why the brigades are being cut. The figure comes only from Army Radio, through An-Nahar. Only one Lebanese analyst explains it.

What this is about. Israeli troops hold ground inside south Lebanon and are striking villages there, while Israel reduces the size of that force.

How it got here. Israel and Hezbollah have fought across the Lebanese border for decades. Israel occupied a strip of south Lebanon from 1982 until it withdrew in 2000. The two fought a war in 2006, which ended with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. That resolution expanded a UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, in the south. On 8 October 2023, the day after Hamas's attack on Israel, Hezbollah began firing on Israel. Israel answered with strikes and, in autumn 2024, a ground invasion. A ceasefire in November 2024 called for Israeli troops to leave and for the Lebanese army to deploy in the south. An-Nahar dates the current round of fighting to seven months ago. It says Israel cut its divisions in the south from 5 to 2 on 1 June.

Who is involved. - Israel's army holds positions in the south. It says it is protecting northern Israel from Hezbollah. - Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia armed group and political party, backed by Iran. - Lebanon's government and army are the state. The ceasefire gives the army the job of taking over the south. - UNIFIL patrols the south for the UN. An-Nahar says its mandate ends at the end of this year, with no replacement agreed.

What is at stake. A smaller Israeli force could be a step towards withdrawal. It could also mean Israel plans to hold the area with fewer troops, relying on air power. Nobody has said who would hold the ground if Israel left.

Where it stands. An-Nahar notes the cut comes weeks before Israel's election on 27 October. Strikes on villages went on the same day the cut was reported.