US Schedules Israel-Lebanon Peace Negotiations for May 14-15 in Washington; Elections Postponed

The United States announced a second round of US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon for May 14-15 in Washington DC, aimed at advancing 'a comprehensive peace and security agreement.' The talks would address Israeli troop withdrawal from occupied Lebanese positions, UNSCR 1701 implementation, Hezbollah disarmament south of the Litani River, and long-term border arrangements. Separately, Lebanon's parliamentary elections — originally scheduled for May 10, 2026 for domestic voters — had been postponed by the Lebanese Parliament due to the ongoing Israeli military operations, which had killed over 2,750 people and displaced more than 1.2 million since March 2. The Security Council also anticipated briefings on UNIFIL's situation, with the force's mandate set to expire December 31, 2026, raising questions about international monitoring of the Blue Line after withdrawal.