Lebanese army and British troops begin three-week Pegasus Cedar 2026 drills
Lebanon's army and British forces began three weeks of joint exercises called Pegasus Cedar 2026 on Tuesday, with several other countries taking part or observing. They come as European states seek to strengthen the Lebanese army after the war with Israel.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Lebanon's army and the British military are holding three weeks of joint exercises, called Pegasus Cedar 2026, starting Tuesday 6 October. The NationalN “Lebanon and Britain are to hold three weeks of military drills beginning on Tuesday” Read at The National ↗ RFIN “Lebanon's army will hold three weeks of exercises with the British military as of Tuesday, both sides said on Monday” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 2Troops from the Royal Regiment of Scotland will train with an air assault team from the Lebanese Armed Forces; the British soldiers are based in Cyprus. The NationalN “troops from the Royal Regiment of Scotland train with an air assault team from the Lebanese Armed Forces” Read at The National ↗ RFIN “British soldiers based in Cyprus would "join their Lebanese counterparts in the Air Assault Regiment” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 2The Lebanese army said the drills aim to "bolster the capabilities of military units and raise the level of coordination between the Lebanese army and friendly armies", and will cover reconnaissance, raids and combat in built-up areas. The National adds that they include helicopter operations and mortar fire exercises. RFIN “bolster the capabilities of military units and raise the level of coordination between the Lebanese army and friendly armies” Read at RFI ↗ The NationalN “helicopter operations, and mortar fire exercises, the Lebanese army said” Read at The National ↗
Centre · 2Other countries are involved, though the two outlets describe this differently. The National says six other countries, including the US, Qatar and Jordan, will be involved. RFI, citing the British embassy, says US and Italian personnel will take part, with France, Cyprus, Qatar and Jordan sending representatives as observers. The NationalN “Six other countries including the US, Qatar and Jordan will also be involved.” Read at The National ↗ RFIN “Personnel from the armies of the United States and Italy will also take part, with representatives from the armies of France, Cyprus, Qatar, and Jordan joining as observers” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 2The British ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, said the forces would "train with their Lebanese counterparts to hone skills and exchange military expertise". The British embassy called it a "landmark military exercise" strengthening bilateral defence ties. The NationalN “will train with their Lebanese counterparts to hone skills and exchange military expertise” Read at The National ↗ RFIN “landmark military exercise aimed at strengthening bilateral defence ties and enhancing operational readiness” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 2The embassy said the exercise builds on a UK-Lebanon training exercise held in September 2023; The National describes it as the first such drills since the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 sparked a regional war. RFIN “builds on a previous UK-Lebanon military training exercise held in September 2023” Read at RFI ↗ The NationalN “the first such drills since the Hamas attack on Israel sparked a regional war in 2023” Read at The National ↗
Centre · 1Lt Gen Charles Collins, Britain's deputy chief of the defence staff, also visited Beirut and met army chief Gen Rodolphe Haykal to discuss security in southern Lebanon. The NationalN “Lt Gen Charles Collins, Britain's deputy chief of the defence staff, also visited Beirut for talks on the security situation in southern Lebanon.” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 2The drills come as European states try to build up the Lebanese army. Under a US-backed process, it is to gradually reassert control in the south and disarm Hezbollah in return for an Israeli withdrawal, though The National notes doubts that the poorly funded and equipped army is up to the task. RFI says a June framework agreement underpins this and that the army, with some 80,000 personnel, relies heavily on foreign aid. The NationalN “there are doubts whether the poorly funded and equipped Lebanese army is up to the task” Read at The National ↗ RFIN “counts some 80,000 personnel and depends heavily on foreign aid” Read at RFI ↗ Centre · 1Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the regional war in March by attacking Israel, which responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion. RFI says violence has dropped since June, but Israel still carries out attacks and demolitions and occupies a self-declared "security zone" about 10 kilometres inside Lebanon. RFIN “Hezbollah drew the country into the Middle East war in March by attacking Israel”“its troops are occupying a self-declared "security zone" running around 10 kilometres inside Lebanon along the border” Read at RFI ↗
Centre · 2Diplomatic efforts continue: France hosted European, Arab and US military officials in Paris last month, where President Joseph Aoun, a former general, called for a "long-term partnership". Aoun is also pushing for a replacement for the UN force Unifil, whose mandate expires this year. The NationalN “Mr Aoun is also pushing for a replacement for the UN peacekeeping force Unifil, the mandate of which expires this year.” Read at The National ↗ RFIN “Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and Jordan's King Abdullah II” Read at RFI ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the drills as part of international efforts to strengthen the Lebanese army amid the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. The National leads on European efforts to make the army a cornerstone of peace; RFI leads on the multinational participation.
- Emphasis
- The National stresses doubts about the army's capacity and wider European plans, including a Unifil replacement. RFI stresses British aid, the army's size and dependence on aid, and the current security situation in the south.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The National gives no army size or British embassy detail on observers. RFI omits the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Collins visit.
- Charged language
- “landmark military exercise”“cornerstone of peace”
- For example
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“as European countries try to build the Lebanese army into a cornerstone of peace with Israel” — The National
“Britain has been a key supporter of the cash-strapped Lebanese army” — RFI
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Lebanon's army and the British military begin three weeks of joint drills on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
- The British troops are based in Cyprus and train with Lebanon's air assault unit.
- The US and other countries take part or observe.
- The drills include reconnaissance and urban combat training.
- Britain has long supported the cash-strapped Lebanese army.
Where accounts differ
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Which countries take part and in what role
- Centre
- The National: six other countries including the US, Qatar and Jordan will be involved. RFI: the US and Italy take part, while France, Cyprus, Qatar and Jordan observe.
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Whether these are the first drills since 2023
- Centre
- The National calls them the first such drills since the 2023 Hamas attack; RFI says they build on a September 2023 UK-Lebanon exercise, without calling them the first since.
Lebanese Army organisation
The Lebanese army says the drills will bolster unit capabilities and improve coordination with friendly armies.
“bolster the capabilities of military units and raise the level of coordination between the Lebanese army and friendly armies” — RFI
British Army organisation
British officials present the exercise as strengthening bilateral defence ties and building the Lebanese Armed Forces as the "sole legitimate defender of Lebanon".
“building the Lebanese Armed Forces’ capabilities as the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon” — The National
“strengthening bilateral defence ties and enhancing operational readiness” — RFI
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Lebanese army to hold joint drills with Britain
Neutral Reports the drills as part of European efforts to build up the Lebanese army, noting doubts about its capacity.
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RFIN ·
Lebanon joined by Britain, France for three weeks of joint military drills
Neutral Reports the multinational drills with the British embassy's and army's statements and background on the army's needs and the security situation.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 5 Oct 18:50 First The NationalN Lebanese army to hold joint drills with Britain
- 6 Oct 07:34 +12h 44m RFIN Lebanon joined by Britain, France for three weeks of joint military drills
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.