In the Guardian today Sami Ramadani has an article where he refers to

a de facto alliance against the Shia ‘crescent’ between the US, Saudi Arabia, Israel and al-Qaida.

The key addition of the words “de facto”  are, I assume, there to suggest that the alliance may not be an actual one.

Alternatively, Dr Mamdouh G Salameh, an International Oil Economist & Consultant to the World Bank on Oil & Energy, was interviewed on Voice of Russia. He posited the theory (25:55-26:10)  that:

There might be an unholy alliance between the United States, Israel and Iran to syphon off the oil and energy resources of the Arab Gulf.

The question I therefore have is this: are the Americans and Israelis working with the Sunni Arab states and Al Qaida against the Shiites or with the Iranian Shiites against the Sunni Arabs?

Hat Tips: Hegemony OrBust and David Patrikarakos.