Two states

Reuters reports that:

"Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his country will consider opening an embassy in Lebanon for the first time once its smaller neighbour forms a government able to foster good ties with Damascus."

This move seems to finally seal the division of Lebanon from greater Syria (known as bilad al-Sham) as set out by France in the 1920s. At present their are no "official diplomatic" ties between the two countries, but Lebanese and Syrians can cross the border using ID cards.