The Lebanese Army in Nabatieh on Sept. 8, 2026. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient-Le Jour)
SOUTH LEBANON — After initially announcing that an Israeli drone strike had wounded four people, including a Lebanese soldier, Wednesday morning in Nabatieh Fawqa in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army said an investigation had ultimately determined that it was not an Israeli attack but the explosion of an object on a road.
“The investigation and technical examination revealed that the incident was caused by the explosion of a suspicious object,” the army said in a statement. The number of injured remained at four including one soldier and three civilians. They were wounded while troops were escorting residents inspecting homes in the village, which lies on the edge of the “buffer zone” occupied by Israel.
According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, a family had gone to the area to retrieve belongings under Lebanese Army escort after obtaining permission to enter the village through the “Mechanism” coordinating the situation in the South, which includes Israeli military representatives. The incident occurred while they were there. The explosion came after a night marked by numerous Israeli artillery strikes and demolitions in the South, as the state had pledged to strengthen its presence in the city of Nabatieh.
Israeli forces continue to carry out daily operations in southern Lebanon, including targeted strikes and demolitions, and occupy more than 600 square kilometers of Lebanese territory. Implementation of the June framework agreement — which mainly provides for Israel’s gradual withdrawal from territory occupied by its troops alongside Hezbollah’s disarmament — has stalled since the last round of talks in Rome in early August.
Demolitions, raids and bombardment
In addition to the explosion in Nabatiyeh Fawqa, the Israeli army blew up homes in Houla (Marjayoun) in the afternoon, where a powerful explosion was heard, as well as in Mansouri (Sour) three times and in Majdal Zoun (Sour). In the early evening, a drone struck the area known as Jarmak (Jezzine), while artillery fire targeted the wooded areas around Aita al-Jabal, Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil) and Khiam (Marjayoun), as well as the area toward Bastara farm in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms.
Earlier in the day, Israeli troops in military vehicles made a morning incursion into the western outskirts of Mais al-Jabal (Marjeyoun), in the Mfaylha area along the road to Doubieh. They set fire to homes and handled explosives in preparation for demolishing structures. The Israeli air force also carried out three strikes on Mansouri (Sour), while helicopters opened fire on the coastal village. The army also carried out a demolition on the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal, on the Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil) side.
At dawn on Wednesday, Israeli vehicles were spotted on the outskirts of Braasheet (Bint Jbeil), as gunfire was reported toward the village. One house in the area was hit by several shells fired from a Merkava tank. Artillery fire also targeted Mansouri (Sour), Zawtar Sharqieh in the direction of Mayfadoun (Nabatiyeh), and Wadi Slouqi (Sour), as well as Srebbine (Bint Jbeil).
On Tuesday evening, a large-scale demolition took place in Mansouri, while a Merkava tank fired several shells at the village. Two other demolitions were reported in Khiam (Marjayoun), alongside machine-gun fire. Israeli artillery struck Wadi Zebqine and Wadi Slouqi, as well as Braasheet and Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil), Nabatieh Fawqa and Majdal Zoun (Sour). Israeli army vehicles were spotted heading toward Srebbine. A bombardment targeted Haddatha, on the Aita al-Jabal (Bint Jbeil) side, while a helicopter fired on Zawtar Sharqieh and Mayfadoun, alongside artillery fire.
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