what is imam mahdi army

The Mahdi Army, also known as the Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM), is a Shiite militia led by Muqtada al-Sadr. It was founded in 2003 and rose to international prominence for its armed confrontations against US forces in Iraq. The army is named after the twelfth Shia imam, "Al Mahdi," who is believed to have disappeared at the end of the 9th century and is expected to return to restore justice and truth on Earth. The forces of Imam al-Mahdi will be composed of various nationalities and, at the time of uprising, they will be called through unique means