Even as Israel bombarded Syria, officials say the U.S. and Gulf countries were working to weaken its president’s alliance with Tehran. Rebels’ shock advance has dampened those hopes.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been discussing the possibility of lifting long-standing sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, there’s a major condition attached: Assad must cut ties with Iran and stop supplying weapons to Hezbollah,