The United States was said to have embarked on a plan to destabilize Syria. Western diplomatic sources and analysts said the United States and France have agreed to cooperate in a policy meant to significantly weaken the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. They said the U.S.-French strategy called for support of opposition groups in Lebanon and Syria as well as pro-U.S. elements within Syria's ruling Baath Party and encouraging Kurdish separatism. The policy has also sought to create fissures between the Iranian-backed Hizbullah and Damascus, the sources said. Hizbullah, which maintains a dialogue with France, has been the leading ally of Damascus in maintaining the Syrian occupation of Lebanon. "France and the United States want Assad to sweat and they're helping those in a position to do so," a Western diplomat said.