Lebanon deputy PM says framework with Israel lacks timeline for army’s withdrawal

Lebanon deputy PM says framework with Israel lacks timeline for army’s withdrawal Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that the framework for a ceasefire agreement with Israel “contains no reference” to a timeline for Israeli withdrawal of its troops from southern Lebanon. “Washington is the sponsor and not the mediator in these talks, and if the sponsor is keen to resolve the issue, it should adjust the balance of power,” Mitri said, adding that the guarantee of a withdrawal could return “some confidence to the talks”. Meanwhile, a US official called the talks “productive” and said that they would continue on Wednesday.