Thousands of Shiite militiamen paraded in Baghdad, above, and several other cities in southern Iraq, signaling their readiness to take on Sunni militants who control a large chunk of the country’s north. The Arabic on the banner reads, “No for America, No for Israel, No for Terrorism, No for ISIS.” (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
Sadrist officials salute volunteers as they parade by in Sadr City, Baghdad. (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr marched in a military-style parade in Baghdadas ISIS fighters captured the town of Rawah, about 175 miles away. (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
The show of force in Baghdad recalled Muqtada Sadr’s Mahdi Army, which terrorized minority Sunnis and clashed repeatedly with U.S. forces, but is now officially disbanded.. (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
Women joined the march in Baghdad as heavily armed Shiite militiamen paraded through several Iraqi cities on Saturday. (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
Followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr ride through the streets of the eastern Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City on a truck with a missile launcher. (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)
Even though Sadr’s militia is officially disbanded, he is still believed to hold sway over some 10,000 fighters. (Karim Kadim / Associated Press)