Members of Blackwater and various groups of coalition troops repel an assault by the Mahdi Army in Iraq. This video was recorded in 2004, and is part of the now infamous gunfight in Najaf.

For those unfamiliar with the gunfight in Najaf, there is a famous video that you can find on our webpage by searching for the name 'Travis Haley.' The video became famous after Travis Haley released footage of himself employing a designated marksman rifle for around eleven minutes from the rooftop. What made this firefight so interesting is that it was one of the first times that Blackwater employees were forced directly into the fight due to the actions of the enemy.

On top of the Blackwater employees being forced directly into the fight, this firefight also saw multiple nation's troops pushed into working together to defend the position from being overran, and Blackwater's little birds were used extensively throughout the firefight to provide aircover, and resupply. Essentially, the gunfight you are watching in this video blurred the lines between civilian contractor and warfighter very heavily.