Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said Tuesday that he would freeze the activities of his militias, potentially pulling back thousands of fighters from the battle against Islamic State militants. Sadr claimed to have taken the decision as a “show of goodwill” following reports of atrocities by Shiite militia groups, many of which are not under his control. Analysts said, however, that other strategic motivations may have prompted the move. The cleric’s order covered the Peace Brigades and the Promised Day Brigade, both of which have their roots in the Mahdi Army, the notorious Sadr militia that was responsible for thousands of attacks on U.S. troops during the Iraq war. The Peace Brigades is among the largest of the Shiite militias that have proliferated since the Islamic State rapidly […]