Mahdi Army

The Mahdi Army was a Shia militia in Iraq, formed in 2003 by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. It aimed to oppose the US-led invasion and promote Shia interests. Comprising mainly Iraqi Shia fighters, it engaged in armed clashes with US and Iraqi government forces, as well as Sunni groups, during Iraq's turbulent post-invasion years. The militia played a significant role in Iraq’s sectarian conflict, at times operating both as an underground insurgent force and a political entity. In 2008, it officially disbanded as part of efforts to stabilize the country, although some factions remained active afterwards.