Where the U.S. falls on both sides of the Middle East religious divide

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The United States is always somehow involved in the Middle East

But these days, it's even more complicated than usual with America finding itself on both sides of a sectarian divide.

See also: Yemen's political crisis: What you need to know

That divide is deepened by the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran is a predominantly Shiite nation while Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni Muslim

Not all Middle Eastern conflicts are simply proxy wars between these two nations, but Iran and Saudi Arabia often support opposing sides. Involvement is complex, but we've charted out how the alliances fall: Read more...

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