Israeli forces carried out a major blast on Monday, 28 September 2026, in the town of al-Mansouri in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon, causing powerful tremors that reached neighbouring areas, as part of repeated demolition operations the town has witnessed in recent weeks.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the explosion shook al-Mansouri, while its sound was heard in the city of Tyre and several surrounding villages. Agence France-Presse correspondents saw thick columns of smoke rising from the coastal town after hearing the sound of the explosion. Al-Mansouri is located about nine kilometres south of Tyre and about 10 kilometres north of Israel.
Demolitions and blasts continue in al-Mansouri
The town and its surroundings have been subjected to air strikes, artillery shelling and continuous blasts in recent weeks, despite a decline in the pace of fighting after the ceasefire that took effect in June 2026. The al-Mansouri municipality had informed residents on 22 June that they could return to their homes, while urging them to stay away from the part located within the security zone established by Israel in southern Lebanon.
At the beginning of August, Israeli forces issued an order for the town’s evacuation before taking full control of it. Since then, Israeli forces have carried out regular demolition and blasting operations inside al-Mansouri, with the resulting columns of smoke and dust visible from areas around the city of Tyre.
Field reports said on 22 September that at least 17 buildings and homes in the town had been demolished in a single night. The operations began with three powerful successive explosions and continued until the early hours.
Field footage during September also showed Israeli drones carrying explosive charges and dropping them on homes in al-Mansouri ahead of their destruction. The Associated Press reported that residents displaced from the town had gathered in the nearby village of al-Hinniyah to watch the rising smoke and try to identify the homes affected by the demolitions.
Regional escalation expands operations in Lebanon
These developments follow the expansion of the regional war that began with a US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February, before spreading to Lebanon in early March after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, saying this was in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with a campaign of air strikes and ground operations in areas of southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanese authorities, military operations since March have killed at least 4,300 people. The intensity of the confrontations declined after the United States and Iran reached an understanding in June, followed by the signing by the Lebanese and Israeli governments of a framework agreement providing for security arrangements, the gradual deployment of the Lebanese army and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Nevertheless, Israeli forces continue to carry out attacks and demolitions in southern towns under their control within a strip extending nearly 10 kilometres deep into Lebanese territory.
