ORDER OF BATTLE // Aug 2004
Najaf
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 3,400–3,500 estimated
United States
2,000
Medium-confidence figure
Mahdi Army
1,400–1,500
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
Militia challenge exposed occupation governance limits
‹ Full battle dossierSources (4)
Reference Collection
LOC · U.S. History Primary Source Timeline
Library of Congress classroom portal organizing U.S. history through digitized primary sources.
→ Open sourceExplore important topics and moments in U.S. history through historical primary sources from the Library of Congress.
Monograph
The Endgame: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama
Government Archive
VA · America's Wars
Department of Veterans Affairs reference material on U.S. war periods and service eras.
→ Open sourceAmerica's war periods provide a government reference frame for the conflict index and long-range expansion roadmap.