• The Mahdi Army is a Shiite paramilitary group in Iraq founded by radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June of 2003. Though the group formed in part to oppose the U.S. occupation of Iraq, they did not actually join the guerrilla attacks on American troops until April of 2004. The army entered a cease-fire in 2007, which it maintained until March, 2008. Efforts were made by Muqtada al-Sadr to extend the cease-fire in March, 2008, but the Iraqi government and United States forces did not accept his demands. Violence broke out between militias, including the Mahdi Army, and coalition forces in Basra and Baghdad on March 24, 2008. Since then, fighting has spread. al-Sadr had called for talks with the government but Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has refused. Instead he has pledged to battle the militias, which he refers to as "criminal gangs," until they are defeated. al-Maliki has also introduced a program to buyback weapons from militias until April 8, 2008.

• Fast Facts:

  1. Sometimes spelled "Mehdi Army"
  2. Founded by Muqtada al-Sadr
  3. Estimated to have 160,000 members
  4. Fought the United States during the Battle of Najaf
  5. The name "Mahdi" is thought to have apocalyptic connotations
  6. Only an estimate half of the Mahdi Army remains under al-Sadr's control
  7. Entered cease-fire agreement in August, 2008
  8. Cease-fire was broken in March, 2008

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Shia Islam | Muqtada al-Sadr | Iran Trains Shiite Insurgents | Iraqi Insurgent Coalition | Ahmad Chalabi | Al-Maliki's Government | GAO Iraq Report | Haditha Killings | Iraq Reconstruction | Iraq War

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