Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon agreed on Friday, May 15, to extend their ceasefire by 45 days after two days of U.S.-facilitated talks in Washington, according to the State Department. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the April 16 cessation of hostilities would be prolonged to allow more negotiations between the two sides. Hours earlier, Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, and Lebanese media and officials reported six people were killed. The extension keeps alive the highest-level contact between Israel and Lebanon in decades, even as fighting has continued in the south. ### How long was the ceasefire extended, and who announced it? Tommy Pigott said on May 15 that “the April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress.” The ceasefire had been due to expire on Sunday, according to the State Department. Washington hosted the talks on May 14 and 15, with U.S. officials including State Department Counselor Michael Needham, Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Al-Monitor reported, citing the State Department. Lebanon was represented by Ambassador Nada Hamadeh and presidential envoy Simon Karam, while Israel sent Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Deputy National Security Adviser Yossi Draznin and senior military officials. (usnews.com) ### What happened in southern Lebanon the same day? Six people were killed on May 15 in strikes on southern Lebanon, Naharnet reported, citing local reports and official statements. The outlet said the strikes came hours before Lebanese and Israeli envoys were due to meet for a second day in Washington. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, warned residents of five villages near Tyre to evacuate immediately before expected attacks. (al-monitor.com) The Israeli military later said it had begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the Tyre area, while Naharnet reported strikes on Kounine, Baraashit, Beit Yahoun, Kfar Remman, Majdal Selem, Shhour, al-Majadel, Froun, Harouf and Nabatieh. (naharnet.com) ### Which issues are the two sides trying to negotiate? Lebanon has prioritized a cessation in hostilities, while Israel says Hezbollah must be disarmed as part of any broader peace agreement, Reuters reported. The negotiations have expanded beyond diplomacy to include security and military officials from both sides. (naharnet.com) Al-Monitor reported that Israeli broadcaster Kan said the sides were expected to discuss a security arrangement covering Hezbollah’s disarmament and border demarcation. Joint working groups are expected to be established on those issues, according to that report. Hezbollah has rejected negotiations with Israel and opposed calls for its disarmament. (usnews.com) ### Why are the talks notable now? The May meetings were the third round of direct negotiations this year and the highest-level contact between Israel and Lebanon in decades, Reuters and Al Jazeera reported. Reuters said the talks followed Israel’s intensified air attacks on Lebanon after Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on March 2. (al-monitor.com) Reuters reported that hostilities have remained concentrated in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are occupying what the report described as a self-declared security zone. Lebanon’s delegation said it wanted to turn the ceasefire momentum into a lasting peace agreement, while Pigott said the United States hoped the talks would advance sovereignty, territorial integrity and security along the border. (usnews.com) ### What happens next in the U.S.-led process? May 29 is the next scheduled date in the process, when the Pentagon is set to host a new security track with military delegations from both countries, Pigott said. The State Department is then due to reconvene political talks on June 2 and June 3. (usnews.com) Those meetings will test whether the 45-day extension produces concrete steps on border security, hostilities and wider political issues. For now, the timeline and the named participants have been set by the State Department, while violence on the ground has continued in southern Lebanon. (usnews.com)