Israel intensified air and ground operations across southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut as the conflict entered its third week, with no signs of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough.

Israeli warplanes continued heavy strikes on southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing dozens of civilians and wounding hundreds, according to local reports.

The town of Khiyam has emerged as a central battleground likely to shape the course of the war and the fate of a potential Israeli ground incursion. Fierce clashes were reported there between Hezbollah fighters and advancing Israeli troops.

Israeli forces have increased their bombardment of Khiyam and nearby villages, apparently aiming to cover the advance of ground units and enable them to tighten control over the area. The military push appears aimed at paving the way for the establishment of a security buffer zone extending along the front line and reaching villages north of the Litani River, most of which were issued evacuation warnings on Sunday.

Israeli troops have also imposed conditions resembling a curfew across villages and towns in the Bint Jbeil district by blocking several secondary roads leading to the main highway, particularly in the Wadi al-Hujeir area. A series of airstrikes there severed access routes to the surrounding villages.

In the town of Kfarsir, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential house, killing one person. When an ambulance from the Islamic Health Authority rushed to the scene, Israeli aircraft struck the site again, killing two paramedics and wounding another.

Airstrikes continued overnight across several areas in southern Lebanon. Israeli fighter jets targeted the towns of Srifa in the Bint Jbeil district, Bint Jbeil, Meifadoun and Taybeh after midnight.

Israeli artillery also shelled the outskirts of the town of Debbine and areas near the Khardali River.

Flares were fired over the areas of Kfarshouba, the Halta farms region, Majidiyah and Wadi Khansa.

Meanwhile, an Israeli armored force advanced from Wata al-Khiyam toward a landfill on the eastern outskirts of the town of Khiyam under cover of artillery fire and airstrikes.

Israeli warplanes also carried out nighttime strikes on the town of Rihan in the Jezzine district.

According to a correspondent for Lebanon’s National News Agency in Tyre, Israeli aircraft also targeted an uninhabited house in the town of Srifa.

Airstrikes resumed before dawn in Beirut’s southern suburbs, ending about 48 hours of relative calm. Two raids were carried out in less than an hour, striking areas near the Haret Hreik neighborhood, with large plumes of smoke rising from the targeted sites.