Maliki began his offensive of JaM in March, when he sent the Iraqi army, with US support, into Sadrist bastions in Baghdad and the southern oil city of Basra. At the same time, Maliki launched a campaign against the Sunni/Neo-Salafi Qaeda in the northern city of Mosul. Sadr's conciliatory stance showed he was pursuing a twin strategy - trying to regain control of his unruly JaM while avoiding armed confrontation with the government.
The anti-US cleric had at times seemed on the verge of declaring war on security forces. But both cases, Sadr is losing ground, as Iran has since reversed course and let Maliki crack down harder on JaM and other rogue Shi'ite militia groups.