Nuclear Fission and Fusion - Binding energy????

When fission takes place do the two smaller nuclei have a higher binding energy than the original?

Also the same for fusion - the resulting larger nuclei has a higher binding energy right?

Thanks

Yes. In both cases, the resulting nucleus or nuclei have, in total, more binding energy than the nucleus or nuclei that it/they formed from.

During a fission reaction, if we use the binding energy per nucleon graph, you can see how it moves upwards to iron to become a more stable element.

What i don't understand is, Why is an increase in binding energy per nucleon = energy is released?

same with fusion in moving up the curve?

Thanks