Siege of Sadr City The Siege of Sadr City was a blockade of the Shi ' a district of northeastern Baghdad carried out by U . S . and Iraqi government forces in an attempt to destroy the main power base of the insurgent Mahdi Army in Baghdad . The siege began in April 2004 with an uprising against the Coalition Provisional Authority following the government banning of a newspaper published by Muqtada Al - Sadr ' s Sadrist Movement . The most intense periods of fighting in Sadr City occurred during the first uprising in April 2004 , the second in August the same year , during the sectarian conflict that gripped Baghdad in late 2006 , during the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 , and during the spring fighting of 2008 . Background . On March 28 , the US overseer of Iraq , Paul Bremer , ordered the 60 - day closure of Al - Hawza , a newspaper published by Muqtada al - Sadr ’ s group , on the charges of inciting violence against the occupation . The next day thousands of Iraqis rallied outside the offices of Al - Hawza in support of the newspaper . On April 3 , Bremer sent troops to al - Sadr ’ s home and arrested Mustafa Yaqoubi , a top lieutenant , sparking further protests . On April 4 , al - Sadr issued a statement calling on his supporters to stop staging demonstrations “ because your enemy prefers terrorism ” . “ America has unsheathed its fangs and its despicable intentions , and the conscientious Iraqi people cannot remain silent at all . They must defend their rights in the ways they see fit , ” the statement said , according to the Washington Post . On the same day as this statement was given , the Mahdi Army began an uprising against the Coalition . The fighting spread across the south of Iraq , while in Baghdad the fighting was concentrated in the Shi ' a areas of Baghdad , mainly Sadr City . This uprising occurred simultaneously with an offensive launched by Sunni insurgents in western Iraq . Siege . Beginning of the siege and subsequent years . As the fighting started on April 4 , militiamen ambushed a 1st Cavalry Division patrol and Iraqi police were expelled from three police stations in Sadr City . Members of the newly arrived 1st Cavalry Division were sent out to retake them . Eight US troops were killed and 51 more wounded in the bloody battle . US forces subsequently regained control of the police stations after running firefights with Mahdi rebels that killed 35 Mahdi Army militiamen ; over 500 were reported killed by the Iraqi Ministry of Health . Mahdi Army members still maintained control over many of the slum areas of Sadr City . The US Army did not set up a blockade around Sadr City and did not have military checkpoint s around the slum . The task of destroying the Mahdi Army in the district was not an easy one for the Coalition for two reasons . First was the fear of mass civilian casualties if there was a direct attack because of the large number of people living in Sadr City . Second , the narrow streets in the district made US armored vehicle movement difficult because of their size . Despite this , the 1st Cavalry Division consistently retained freedom of movement in Sadr City , conducting multiple patrols every day and night . In Sadr City itself Mahdi Army militiamen coordinated a system of security that ran parallel to the official police structure , but this soon crumbled as they suffered heavy casualties in the uprising . In the coming months and years Sadr City was under near - constant combat that was occasionally lifted following agreements by the Mahdi Army to end the fighting . These temporary ceasefires would be called off because of repeated violations of the agreements by Muqtada Sadr . The Mahdi Army occasionally shelled the Green Zone , the central seat of Coalition power in Iraq , with mortars and rockets from the district . These attacks stopped when US Army attack helicopter s destroyed a rocket team and US Army artillery annihilated a mortar team . The rocket attacks came back after a year and grew both in number and sophistication due to the training of the Mahdi Army by the Iranian special forces . Mahdi Army militiamen lined the main road through the district with so many improvised explosive devices it has become unusable by civilian traffic . Militiamen also conducted raids against Coalition forces outside Sadr City in other parts of Baghdad , like on June 4 , 2004 , when a Mahdi Army ambush on a US National Guard patrol on Palestine Street , near Sadr City , left five US soldiers dead . Occasional heavy street fighting occurred . One such battle took place on September 7 , 2004 , when one US soldier and 40 Iraqis were killed and another 270 people wounded during street battles on the outskirts of the district . Three other US soldiers were killed in a string of attacks across the capital that day . Sectarian killings . In late 2006 Baghdad was more than 80 percent under the control of insurgent forces and so an intense sectarian turf war broke out between Sunni and Shia insurgents , including the Mahdi Army . Sadr City was spared from most of the massacres that were leaving 50 , 60 or 70 bodies throughout Baghdad per day because of the blockade and the tight Mahdi Army control of the district . However , al - Qaeda elements did conduct suicide and car bomb attacks in the district against Shias . One of the deadliest attacks was a series of car bombs and mortar attacks in Sadr City on November 23 , 2006 , that began at 15 : 10 and ended at 15 : 55 , which left at least 215 civilians dead and some 257 wounded . Six car bombs and two mortar rounds were used in the attack on the Shi ' ite Muslim slum . In response to these bloody bombings , rogue Mahdi Army militiamen formed death squads and conducted ethnic cleansing of Sunni neighborhoods of Baghdad which left thousands of people dead . Operation Imposing Law and the August 2007 cease - fire . In February 2007 , the Coalition launched Operation Imposing Law with the sole purpose of taking back Baghdad from the insurgents . Heavy street battles , block by block , neighborhood by neighborhood , ensued for the next six months . There were several skirmishes on the outskirts of Sadr City but the Coalition left that part of the capital to be taken last . By late November the operation ended with southern portions of Baghdad still remaining in al - Qaeda hands and the whole of Sadr City still under Mahdi Army control . In late August heavy fighting erupted in Karbala between the Mahdi Army and policemen who were members of the rival Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council . More than 50 people were killed . After that Sadr declared a unilateral cease - fire to be implemented by all branches and elements of the Mahdi Army . The cease - fire was observed by most of the Mahdi Army , but the Coalition forces still continued to harass the Mahdi Army with constant raids . The Coalition stated they were only targeting rogue elements of the militia . However during this time a complete reorganisation of the Mahdi Army was conducted and almost all of the criminal and rogue elements of the militia were eliminated by Sadr . But despite this Coalition raids continued into March 2008 . March 2008 fighting . On March 25 , an Iraqi military assault was launched against the port city of Basra , which was held by a number of militia groups , but primarily by the Mahdi Army . This led to the collapse of the cease - fire and the continuation of the fighting in Sadr City . Beginning early in the morning of March 25 , Mahdi Army militia launched a number of rocket and mortar attacks from Sadr City at US forward operating base s throughout Baghdad , as well as the Green Zone . On March 28 , the Iraqi prime minister , Nouri al Maliki , clamped an around - the - clock curfew on Baghdad after fighting spread from Basra into the capital . During the fighting on the evening of March 28 , reports came in that a unit of 500 policemen decided to stop working with the government and join the Mahdi Army . The next morning , in a well - publicized event in Sadr City , 40 men who said they were Iraqi police officers surrendered their weapons to Sadr officials saying " We can ' t fight our brothers in the Mahdi Army , so we came here to submit our weapons . " In return , the Sadr officials gave the officers olive branches and Korans . The weapons were returned after the officers pledged not to use them against Mahdi Army members . “ These weapons are for defending the country but not for fighting your brothers , ” said Sheik Salman al - Fraji , head of the Sadr office there ( See also : Video coverage of event ) . Another 15 soldiers also surrendered elsewhere in Baghdad . During the heavy street fighting in Sadr City and its neighboring districts between March 23 , 2008 and March 31 , 2008 , 180 militants and 150 civilians were killed . Nine U . S . soldiers were killed during the fighting along with a number of members from the Iraqi security forces . Two U . S . diplomats and two Iraqi policemen were killed in the shelling of the Green Zone during this period . On March 31 the curfew announced by the Iraqi prime minister was lifted in most parts of the Baghdad following another unilateral ceasefire called by Muqtada al - Sadr . However the curfew remained in effect in Sadr City into April and the ceasefire only lasted until April 6 , when US forces , for the first time , started a push into Sadr City , trying to hold the ground gained in an attempt to get the militia mortar teams further away from the Green Zone . The U . S . and Iraqi units were coming under heavy fire as they moved deeper into the neighborhood , engaging anyone that faced them . 2008 U . S . assault . On April 6 , 2008 , the Iraqi National Security Council released a statement calling on all political parties to disband their militias if they want to participate in the elections later in the year . The statement was seen to be directed at Muqtada al - Sadr , who derives most of his support from Sadr City . On the same day , a joint U . S . and Iraqi military force ( Iraqi elements drawn from the 11th Division ) moved into the southern suburbs of Sadr City , provoking heavy street fighting as militiamen opened fire with RPGs and automatic weapons . Two Iraqi Army armored vehicles and two trucks were destroyed and one U . S . Stryker armored personnel carrier was damaged . U . S . Apache helicopters provided air support during the battle , launching Hellfire missiles at militiamen and their vehicles . The U . S . military reported nine militiamen were killed in one such air strike around 8 a . m . after militiamen attacked Iraqi troops with RPGs . The raid was a part of an attempt to stop mortar and rocket fire on the Green Zone by seizing neighborhoods in Sadr City used as launching points by the Mahdi Army , Rockets and mortar fire continued to fall on the Green Zone and U . S . military bases around the capital . Three US soldiers and at least 20 Iraqis had been killed by the end of the day . 31 U . S . soldiers were also wounded in the fighting . Unmanned Predator aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into Sadr City every day targeting the mortar and rocket teams . The fighting mostly stopped early on April 11 , as U . S . and Iraqi forces managed to advance down the main road through Sadr City and set up a forward defence line inside the district . However , that night fighting continued when U . S . and Iraqi units were attacked with small - arms , machine guns and RPGs from high - rise buildings in Sadr City . Snipers and roadside bombs were also used against a Coalition convoy transporting concrete barriers for use in constructing an Iraqi Army checkpoint . The U . S . military claimed it killed at least 13 Madhi Army militiamen in three separate engagements following the attacks on its forces . On April 15 , US forces , protected by M1 Abrams tanks , Stryker APCs and Apache helicopters , began construction of a massive concrete barrier along Al Quds Street , a major road separating the southern districts of Thawra and Jamilla from the northern districts which make up the heart of Sadr City . The barrier is designed to turn the southern districts of Sadr city into a protected zone in which US and Iraqi forces can begin reconstruction . Late in the evening of April 15 , a company of Iraqi police deserted their positions at a police station ahead of the coalition positions and the Mahdi army moved in to occupy the station . Although the company was a relatively green unit which had relieved a more experienced unit only days before , it raised doubts among US forces about the Iraqis ' ability to hold their ground . An Iraqi special reconnaissance unit recaptured the police station the next day . On April 17 , a heavy dust storm engulfed Baghdad and the militiamen used this to their advantage , attacking the coalition front lines under the cover of the storm . Militiamen attacked an Iraqi police station which had American advisors embedded with the Iraqis , fearing a repeat of Tuesday ' s desertions . As fighting grew and US forces prepared to send tanks and APCs to support the Iraqis , an Iraqi armored force arrived at the station before US forces were needed . Fighting continued throughout the night and new attacks were staged the next day as the storm continued and U . S . forces were not able to send in helicopters , planes or drones to assist . This day another company of Iraqi soldiers deserted their post after almost being overrun by militants . The fighting finally died down in the evening as the sand storm lifted . In the fighting on April 17 and 18 , 17 Iraqi soldiers and 22 militiamen were killed along with a number of civilians . By April 18 , Coalition forces managed to take a quarter of Sadr City , which was made up mostly of the southern outskirts of the slum . However , they were not able to move in any further . For the next week , US drones and helicopters continued to attack Mahdi Army forces launching mortars or placing roadside bombs . On April 27 , the Mahdi Army once again took advantage of a heavy dust storm which grounded US aerial forces to attack the blockades around Sadr City . 22 Mahdi army militiamen were killed when they attacked a joint US - Iraqi checkpoint . The checkpoint was supported by M1A2 Abrams tanks and no US or Iraqi forces were injured during the attack . 16 militants were also killed in separate engagements throughout eastern Baghdad , according to a US military statement . The next day three American soldiers were killed by rocket and mortar attacks in eastern Baghdad . Another US soldier was killed in a similar attack in northern Baghdad . On the same day seven militants were killed by US tank and helicopter fire in Sadr city . In total four U . S . soldiers , 45 militants and eight civilians were killed during the 24 hours of fighting . On April 29 , U . S . forces in Stryker vehicles tried to push deeper into Sadr City but were met with stiff resistance from fighters using machine - guns and RPGs . After heavy fighting the troops withdrew to their start positions . 28 militants were killed , 6 U . S . soldiers were wounded , several U . S . military vehicles were damaged and three buildings used by militants were destroyed by American bombing during the battle . It brought to 79 the number of militiamen killed in the three days of fighting in Sadr city . Later in the evening one U . S . soldier was killed in the vicinity of Sadr City . Two other U . S . soldiers were also killed this day in fighting in other northern and northwestern parts of the capitol . April 30 - May 1 : The US military claimed to have killed 28 militiamen in a series of engagements beginning just before midday and lasting into the early morning of May 1 . The largest attack occurred around 11 . 20 a . m . when US forces building the concrete barrier were attacked with RPGs , automatic weapons and mortars . 10 militiamen were killed in the attack and no U . S . casualties were reported . Nine militiamen were killed while preparing to fire rockets at Coalition forces or after placing roadside bombs . Eight others were killed throughout the evening in a number of separate firefights with US forces . A US special forces unit killed a senior Special Groups leader during a raid in Sadr City , bringing the total number of militiamen killed during the day to 28 . On May 3 , U . S . forces , using a guided multiple - launch rocket system ( GMLRS ) , struck a militant command and control center housed in a building just away from the al - Sadr Hospital , one of two main hospitals in Sadr City . The U . S . strike caused heavy damage to the hospital , destroying or damaging a dozen ambulances and wounding 28 civilians . Over the next week , militiamen in Sadr City and the neighboring suburbs continued emplacing IEDs , firing rockets and attacking U . S . forces constructing the barrier along al - Quds street . However U . S . forces from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment , the 3rd Infantry Division , the 4th Infantry Division , the 10th Mountain Division and the 25th Infantry Division , supported by UAVs firing Hellfire missiles , Bradley APCs , M1 tanks and U . S . Special Forces , inflicted heavy casualties on the militiamen . The U . S . military claimed that between May 3 and May 9 , it had killed at least 76 militiamen . Iraqi Special Operations Forces ( ISOF ) , supported by U . S . Special Forces , were also operating in Sadr City . On May 6 , an ISOF unit captured seven " Special Groups " members allegedly responsible for supplying explosively formed penetrators ( EFPs ) into Baghdad , as well as firing rockets into the Green Zone . Between May 8 and May 9 , U . S . Special Forces killed 13 Special Groups members while providing security for U . S . engineers 821st Engineer company West Virginia National Guard . On May 11 , a cease - fire went into effect and on May 12 a 14 - point agreement was signed between the Iraqi government and representatives of Muqtada al - Sadr , granting Iraqi military forces permission by the Mahdi Army to enter the district to establish security checkpoints and to hunt for rogue militiamen . Under the agreement , the U . S . military would not enter areas of Sadr City north of al - Quds street , but the Mahdi Army promised to stop rocket attacks on U . S . military bases and the Green Zone . Just before dawn on May 20 , six battalions of Iraqi soldiers moved into the northern districts of Sadr City as part of Operation " Salaam " ( " Peace " in Arabic ) . The Iraqi forces met no resistance as they took up positions formerly occupied by the Madhi Army , and were generally welcomed by Sadr City residents . Militiamen from the Mahdi Army handed Iraqi soldiers copies of the Koran as a gesture of goodwill . Iraqi forces secured the Imam Ali and Sadr hospitals as well as setting up a checkpoint and positioning tanks outside al - Sadr ' s political office . In a press conference , General Qassem Atta said Iraqi forces had safely detonated 100 bombs since the incursion began . At least 941 people were killed . Among the dead were 22 U . S . and 17 Iraqi soldiers as well as 331 militants and 591 civilians . 100 U . S . soldiers and more than 1 , 700 civilians were wounded . 549 of the civilians were killed in Sadr City while another 42 were killed in different parts of Baghdad by mortars , fired from Sadr City , which missed the Green Zone . Aftermath . By May 21 , 2008 , Iraqi Army Units had secured or captured all of Sadr City , receiving little resistance as the 10 , 000 man force backed by tanks rolled past barricades and into the center of the city . However , Mahdi Army fighters remained in Sadr City , blended in the civilian population , with their weapons . During the four - year siege , several thousand Iraqi civilians were killed in street clashes , by roadside bombs , snipers and suicide bombers , in military raids and in constant U . S . military air strikes . Some also died due to the lack of food , water and a rising threat from the lack of sanitation services . Over 1 , 000 Mahdi Army fighters were killed along with at least 500 members of the Iraqi security forces and less than 300 U . S . soldiers .