Lebanon and Syria sign agreement on border demarcation and easing tensions

Lebanon and Syria have signed an agreement on border demarcation and to boost coordination between the two countries regarding security along their tense frontier, AP reported citing Saudi state media. 

The deal signed by the Lebanese and Syrian defense ministers in Saudi Arabia late Thursday came after clashes in border areas earlier this month left several people dead and dozens wounded on both sides, according to AP.

The plan for border demarcation also comes after the ouster in early December of the 54-year Assad family rule in Syria.

Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa was scheduled to visit the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Wednesday but the visit was canceled. Menassa and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, later flew to Jiddah in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, where they held talks that were attended by Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and signed the deal, according to AP.