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Among the Shiites, Mahdi is the messiah, the savior, the "hidden" imam who will appear before the "end of the world" and restore justice on earth.

At first, the Mahdi Army was a small group of about 500 Islamic seminary students in the Baghdad district of Sadr City (formerly known as Saddam City). After the defeat of the Saddam security forces and the capture of Baghdad by the Americans on April 9, 2003, they had to take on the security of their first region and then a number of South Iraqi settlements. They provided distribution of humanitarian aid to the population and guarded the poor Shiite quarters from robbers and looters. The leader of this group from its very foundation to this day is the young Shiite leader Muktad al-Sadr .

Gradually, the number of troops increased to ten thousand soldiers, and currently in some parts of Iraq the “Mahdi Army” is a kind of “shadow power”. Despite the sharply anti-American nature of the sermons of Muktada al-Sadr , at first he did not allow attacks by the armed forces controlled by him on coalition forces and refused to join the attacks carried out by Sunni militants.

Rebellion begins

The position of al-Sadr , however, changed dramatically by early April 2004 . After the closure of his Al-Hawza newspaper and the arrest of one of his main assistants, al-Sadr delivered an unexpectedly hot sermon, and the very next day, April 3, a wave of protests swept across the Shiite south, which grew into an armed uprising on April 4 "The Mahdi Army."

Rebellion

The Mahdi Army units launched an offensive in Najaf , Kufa , Kut and Sadr City , seizing public buildings and police stations, and engaging in armed clashes with coalition forces. As a result of the battles, the Mahdi Army established control over part of Karbala . Attacks on coalition forces were carried out in Nasiria , Amar and Basra . Spanish units were knocked out of Najaf and Kufa, Ukrainians from El Kut. For some time, coalition forces managed to almost completely suppress the activity of militants in Nasiria, Amar and Basra. At the same time, the Mahdi Army retained control over many quarters of Sadr City.

On April 16, coalition forces succeeded in recapturing El Kut. However, al-Sadr retained control of the areas around Najaf, Kufa and Karbala. Al-Sadr himself was hiding in Najaf. 2,500 coalition forces blocked Najaf, but then control was somewhat weakened during negotiations with the Mahdi Army.

At the beginning of May, according to coalition forces, there were from 200 to 500 militants in Karbala; 300–400 in Diwan , an unknown number of fighters in Amar and Basra and at least 1-2 thousand in the area of ​​Najaf and Kufa.

On May 4, after the breakdown of negotiations , coalition forces launched a counterattack in southern Iraq, in Karbala, Diwa, Najaf, and Sadr City. At the same time, hundreds of Mahdi Army fighters inflicted a distracting blow on Basra, firing on British patrols and capturing part of the city. On May 24, having suffered serious losses in weeks of fighting, the militant units left Karbala. Under their control, Najaf and Kufa remained. Throughout the uprising, al-Sadr delivered weekly passionate sermons in Kufa.

On June 6, Muktada al-Sadr ordered his militants to cease hostilities in Najaf and Kufa. Attacks on US units ceased, militants left the war zones or went home. This day was the last day of the Shiite rebellion. The total losses of the “Mahdi Army” throughout Iraq are estimated at 1,500 fighters. After the Iraqi government security forces returned to Najaf, Sadr City remained the last bastion of the Mahdi Army to continue its fierce resistance. Only on June 24, the “Mahdi Army” announced the cessation of hostilities and here - at least for a while.

The uprising ended with a truce with the American occupation authorities. Muktada al-Sadr increased his authority and entrenched in Najaf. At the same time, the Mahdi Army uprising failed to prevent the transfer of power in the country from the Provisional Occupation Administration to the interim Iraqi government, which took place on June 28, 2004 , a few days earlier than planned.

However, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was unable to return Muktad al-Sadr and his militants to a peaceful life. Muktada al-Sadr did not disband his armed units, he did not recognize the new government, and refused to participate in the election of the new parliament.

After the ceasefire, al-Sadr created the appearance of steps to disband his armed units. He appealed to those militants who were from other cities with an appeal “to fulfill their duty” and to go home from Najaf. Al-Sadr forbade his supporters from attacking Iraqi security forces and announced his intention to form a political party and run in the 2005 elections .

Public Response

The uprising caused a mixed reaction among the Iraqi population. Iraqis generally did not support, but did not oppose, the rebels. Most Iraqi security forces simply “disappeared into the crowd,” avoiding any confrontation with rebel compatriots.

At the same time, by no means all Shiites even in Najaf follow the "Mahdi Army", supporting more moderate Islamic priests. We can talk about the existence of certain clandestine groups that attacked militias of al-Sadr. At the same time, these units receive great support from the Shiites in Baghdad. It should also be recognized that dozens of Iraqi policemen joined the Mahdi Army during the uprising.

Al-Sadr was again at the center of events on August 4, 2004. After unidentified detonators detonated an explosive device in a car parked near the Najaf police station, coalition forces surrounded the imam’s house. After a fierce shootout, al-Sadr managed to escape. The attempt to capture al-Sadr was perceived by his supporters as a violation of the ceasefire and a reason for a new uprising.

Fierce fighting unfolded in the historical center of Najaf. Daily there were reports of dozens of dead and wounded. The population in a panic left the city center, which was blocked by armored vehicles.

Following Najaf, the Shiite south of the country flared up again. An uprising broke out in Basra , through which the main flows of Iraqi oil are delivered to the world market. Due to the threat of terrorist attacks, the pumping of oil through the main oil pipeline in the south of the country periodically ceases.

On August 8, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi visited Najaf and called on the Mahdi Army militia to leave the holy city and lay down their arms. The call remained unanswered.

Meanwhile, armed clashes continued not only in Najaf , but also in Baghdad , Al-Amar , El-Kuf and other cities.

A week after the uprising began, on August 12 , American forces began to squeeze the encirclement around al-Sadr and his supporters, who were entrenched in the city cemetery of Wadi Salaam, adjacent to the mausoleum of Imam Ali - the main Shiite shrine of En-Najaf. About 2,000 Americans from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Force and 1,800 Iraqi troops were concentrated in the city area. The attackers used fighter aircraft, artillery, helicopters and tanks. At the same time, during the fighting, the Americans tried to do everything possible so as not to damage the tomb of Imam Ali, since this could only aggravate the situation.

The All- Iraq Conference , which was convened in Baghdad to elect an interim Iraqi parliament, attempted to mediate between al-Sadr and the government, but al-Sadr used negotiations only to delay time and take a break.

Solidarity with the defenders of Najaf was expressed not only by the Shiite, but also by the Sunni population of Iraq. Shiite volunteers from all over Iraq and Iran arrived in Najaf to help the rebels.

By August 19, two weeks after the uprising began, the government was ready to give consent to the assault on Shiite shrines, while al-Sadr still refused to withdraw his militants from sacred places and disarm. The order for the assault was never given back, because, according to experts, it could lead to an escalation of violence in Shiite areas and provoke a moderate portion of Shiites to join the ranks of radical organizations. Moreover, even the physical elimination of al-Sadr would not mean victory over the rebels, since a new military leader would inevitably appear.

On August 19, the invasion of troops began in Sadr City , a multi-million suburb of Baghdad, whose population is supported by al-Sadr. Residents were asked to surrender weapons in order to avoid bloodshed.

Meanwhile, the rebels in Najaf said they would not allow the transfer of Shiite shrines to government forces or international troops, but were ready to cooperate with representatives of the Shiite supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and even give them the keys to the mosque.

New Truce

On August 25 , exactly three weeks after the start of the rebellion, it was completely unexpected that Ali al-Sistani flew out of London , but not to the American-controlled Baghdad airport, but to neighboring Kuwait from where he moved to the second-largest Iraqi city of Basra , the center Shiite south. Here he called on all Muslims of Iraq, Sunnis and Shiites, to prepare for a campaign on Najaf in order to “protect the tomb of Imam Ali from desecration” (without specifying from whom). Supporters of Muktada al-Sadr picked up this call, perceiving this call as the only way to salvation. A spokesman for Muktada al-Sadr said the Mahdi Army is suspending resistance in Najaf and the rest of Iraq in honor of "the return of Ali al-Sistani to the country."

The next day, August 26 , al-Sistani arrived in Najaf. Thousands of people flocked to meet with the spiritual leader to Najaf from all sides of Iraq - from Baghdad, En-Nasiriya, Karbala, Hilla, Ed-Diwaniya, Amara and other cities in the hope of hearing his sermons. The return was accompanied by new bloodshed - in several places, as a result of shelling, 74 people died and several hundred were injured.

Al-Sistani immediately made it clear that he was the master of the situation, and declared that he would remain in the besieged city until the conflict was settled. The conditions that he set up, in principle, are very similar to what they tried to achieve from the rebel leader of the Iraqi authorities: the withdrawal of the Mahdi Army from the mausoleum of Imam Ali and their disarmament, transfer of control of the holy places into the hands of religious authorities. Neither the worst threats, nor the support of American aviation and tanks helped the government of Iyad Allawi achieve this. With the arrival of the spiritual leader of Iraqi Shiites in the city, the situation changed dramatically.

On the morning of August 27, militants from the Mahdi Army left the territory of the tomb of Imam Ali and “disappeared” in the city. Muktada al-Sadr adopted the settlement plan proposed by the great ayatollah and ordered his supporters to disarm and leave Al-Kuf and Al-Najaf. But first, thousands of pilgrims from various Shiite cities of Iraq were allowed into the complex. Mingling with this huge crowd, the supporters of Sheikh Sadr quietly left. At the same time, many of them took weapons with them, demonstrating with all their appearance hostility towards the occupying forces.

During the battles, the mausoleum remained unharmed, but the historical center of the city with the same old buildings as the mosque was completely destroyed. Under the collapsed buildings are the bodies of the dead, and the densely populated quarter is facing an epidemic. According to authorities, the crisis in Najaf will cost the budget $ 380 million. Coalition forces have been withdrawn from Najaf, Iraqi police have been responsible for maintaining security, the government has pledged compensation to local residents for housing destroyed during the fighting.

The government of Iyad Allawi stated that it accepts the agreements reached and guarantees al-Sadr freedom and inviolability. As-Sadr is allowed to stay in Najaf, live there in his house. Muktada himself said that while the occupation continues, he is not going to engage in “political activities”.

After the militants left the mausoleum in one of the buildings of the complex, the police discovered at least 25 corpses of policemen and ordinary residents of the city with signs of torture.

Already on August 28, American troops launched an operation against militants of the Al-Mahdi Army in the Shiite suburb of Baghdad, Sadr City. On August 29, a ceasefire was signed here. Under its terms, American troops will leave Sadr City and guarantee the inviolability of the Mahdi Army activists, provided that they abstain from armed anti-American actions.

The truce in Baghdad was preceded by a meeting of the four great ayatollahs of Iraq: Ali al-Sistani, Ali Najafi, Mohammed Hakim and Ishaq Fayyad in Najaf, after which they issued a statement against armed methods of fighting the US troops in the country.

At the same time, Shiite field commanders in southern Iraq said they did not consider themselves bound by a peace agreement and continued shelling the occupying forces and blowing up oil pipelines. According to them, the “Mahdi Army” pledged to cease hostilities exclusively in Najaf.

Ceasefire

On August 30, 2004, Muktada al-Sadr called on Mahdi Army militants to cease fire throughout Iraq, resort to arms exclusively for self-defense, and show patience until he unveils a large-scale political settlement program. After August 30, militants of the Mahdi Army did not enter into particularly large-scale clashes with coalition forces. In September 2004, there were only a few shootings in the city of Basra in southern Iraq.

On September 18, 2005, rebels of the Mahdi Army, numbering about 200 people, occupied Basra. They were unhappy with the actions of the British military. A few hours later the city was liberated. No harm done.

On October 24, 2007, the Mahdi Army detachments again entered Basra and completely captured it. As a result of clashes between Mahdi Army militants and Iraqi forces, four soldiers and several militants were killed. The rebels captured 50 police officers.

March 25, 2008 , immediately after the statement of US President George W. Bush about the victory of democracy in Iraq , heavy fighting began between Baghdad between the city police and the Mahdi Army. Literally on the same day, unrest swept the entire south of Iraq. As of 9 a.m. (Moscow time) on March 26, about 40 people were killed in battles. On March 28, the Mahdi Army detachments occupied the central part of Basra, knocking out government troops from there. The rebels also took control of several suburban quarters of this large city in southern Iraq.

On April 1 , after the order of the leader of the Mahdi Army, Imam Muktada al-Sadr , on the withdrawal of the soldiers of this armed group from the streets of Iraqi cities, a week-long cease - fire came. Battles in Basra and the Shiite areas of Baghdad ceased.

Battles resumed on April 8 , after the announcement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Muktada al-Sadr to dissolve the Mahdi Army, threatening otherwise to ban its supporters from any political activity, including participation in the elections. The leader of the Mahdi Army agreed to dissolve his organization if this decision was approved by Shiite religious scholars . The decision was not approved, Shiite scholars banned the dissolution of the “Mahdi Army”.

On August 28, 2008 , al-Sadr ordered the Mahdi Army to suspend military activity indefinitely. ^[2] Later, however, al-Sadr created several new organizations instead of the Mahdi Army: the Promised Day Brigade , established in November 2008 as the police ^[3] , and Muhamidun , which focuses on social work and religious education ^[4] . In a 2010 report, the Associated Press also mentioned the third wing, Monaserun , responsible for recruiting supporters. ^[5]

Since 2008, rumors of a revival of the Mahdi Army have periodically shuttled. In April 2010 , having obtained 40 of the 325 seats in the 2010 parliamentary elections , al-Sadr called for the restoration of the military organization ^[6] .

In 2014, al-Sadr called for the creation of “Peace Societies” ^[7] , often mistranslated as “Peace Brigades” to protect Shiite shrines from the Islamic State ^[8] . In June 2014, these Peace Societies marched in Sadr City , a Shiite district of Baghdad ^{[9] [10]} . In addition to guarding the shrines, Peace Societies took part in offensive operations such as the re-capture of Jurf al-Nasra in October 2014 . They temporarily suspended their militaristic activities in February 2015 ^[11] , but were active during the second battle of Tikrit in March of that year ^[12] .

Although Muktad al-Sadr has historically had close ties with Iran, he is generally against Iranian clerical and political influence in Iraq. Unlike the Al-Hakim family, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, and many leaders of the Dawah party, who fled to Iran after the Persian Gulf war and remained there in exile until the American invasion in 2003, Muqtad al-Sadr and his family remained in Iraq for throughout the reign of Saddam. For refusing to leave Iraq, the Sadrov family received great support during and after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. In early 2006, al-Sadr promised military support to Iran and other neighboring Islamic countries if they were attacked by a foreign state ^[13] . Since then, however, al-Sadr opposed the party of Dawa , and in March 2008, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki authorized a major operation against the Mahdi Army in Basra ^[14] .

В конце 2007 года или в 2008 году Муктада ас-Садр переехал в Иран и провел несколько лет изучения шиитской судебной практики в Куме перед возвращением в Эн-Наджаф в 2011 году ^{[6] [15]} .