Miqrab AI’s analysis of 387 Facebook posts trending on December 7, 2024, reveals that online discourse in Iraq is overwhelmingly focused on the rapid collapse of the Assad regime in neighboring Syria and its direct repercussions for Iraq. This dominant theme encompasses extensive coverage of Syrian soldiers fleeing across the border, critical commentary on the history of Syrian rebel leaders, and official Iraqi statements on border security. Domestically, significant engagement centered on media personality Sahar Abbas Jamil’s move to a new television channel, which generated the highest-impact post of the day. Other key topics include the results of major Spanish football matches, the launch of a large-scale environmental project in Baghdad by the Prime Minister’s office, and cultural content, such as a new poem by Ali Almansory, which also garnered substantial attention.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Sahar Abbas Jamil Leaves Al-Sharqiya for Dijlah TV

The most engaging story of the day was the announcement by prominent media personality Sahar Abbas Jamil that she is leaving Al-Sharqiya TV. In a personal post, Sahar Abbas Jamil (Post Impact: 100%) thanked the management of Al-Sharqiya for their support during her “few months” there and noted the channel’s great contribution to her career. She announced that her next destination would be Dijlah TV, stating, “Our new appearance will be via the (Dijlah) satellite channel… an appearance that will be different and important after agreeing with the chairman of the channel’s board of directors on the finest details that will ensure the success of the program as you have always known it.” The news was also shared by other outlets, including Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 16%), which confirmed her move back to Dijlah TV.

2. The Rapid Collapse of the Syrian Regime and its Regional Impact

The swift and dramatic developments in Syria dominated Facebook conversations, with numerous pages offering analysis and updates. Al Khowa Al Nadheefa (Post Impact: 36%) shared an image of the statue of Hafez al-Assad being toppled in Jaramana, a suburb of Damascus, symbolizing the regime’s fall. Commentator Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 29%) highlighted Iran’s perceived abandonment of its allies, questioning the position of Iraqi factions as they watch Bashar al-Assad being left to face his “inevitable fate alone.” Meanwhile, politician Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaidi (Post Impact: 11%) analyzed the situation as a major geopolitical project to redraw the map of the region, suggesting the timing with the truce in Lebanon indicates a pre-planned scheme.

3. Spanish Football: Real Madrid Wins, Barcelona Draws

Spanish football results were a major topic of discussion, with two key matches drawing high engagement. The page Al Khowa Al Nadheefa (Post Impact: 40%) reported Real Madrid’s sweeping 3-0 victory over Girona, noting that the win puts them just two points from the top of the La Liga table with a game in hand. In a separate post, the same page announced that Al Khowa Al Nadheefa (Post Impact: 57%) Barcelona drew 2-2 with Real Betis. These results were also covered by pages like Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 8%) and Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 6%), solidifying the narrative of a successful night for Real Madrid and a setback for Barcelona.

4. Poet Ali Almansory Recites New Poem “Adeem Al-Dhouq”

Renowned Iraqi poet Ali Almansory captured significant attention by sharing a video of himself reciting a new poem. The post from his official page, Ali Almansory (Post Impact: 99%), was simply captioned, “I wish you an enjoyable time with the poem Adeem Al-Dhouq (Tasteless) ☺️.” The video features the poet delivering his work in his characteristic style, and despite being a single-source story, its immense engagement rate made it one of the most impactful pieces of content on Iraqi Facebook for the day.

5. PM Al-Sudani Launches Baghdad Sustainable Forests Project

The Iraqi government’s launch of the “Baghdad Sustainable Forests” project at the site of the former Al-Rashid Camp received widespread coverage. Pages like The Government Palace (Post Impact: 10%) and From Baghdad (Post Impact: 6%) described the project as an exceptional transformation of a former waste dump into one of Baghdad’s largest green spaces, spanning 12.5 million square meters. Official government pages, including the Government of Iraq (Post Impact: 5%), posted photos of Prime Minister Mohammed Shaya Al-Sudani launching the project. Baghdad Projects (Post Impact: 7%) shared exclusive designs, detailing plans for artificial lakes, themed forests, and recreational facilities.

6. Syrian Soldiers Withdraw to Iraq, Surrendering to the Army

A significant sub-narrative of the Syrian conflict was the withdrawal of Syrian army soldiers into Iraqi territory. Iraqis Only (Post Impact: 22%) shared a video showing the continued arrival of withdrawing Syrian army personnel at the Al-Qaim border crossing, where local Anbar tribes were reportedly providing them with food. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 16%) posted about a Syrian soldier from Homs who expressed feelings of abandonment by Russia, Iran, and Assad. Similarly, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 3%) and Hussam Alhaj (Post Impact: 5%) posted footage of Syrian soldiers handing over their weapons to the Iraqi army upon their arrival.

7. Iraqi Commentators Criticize Syrian Leader Al-Jolani

Iraqi commentators and politicians directed criticism toward Syrian opposition leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, focusing on his past involvement in Iraq. Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 25%) reacted to a recent interview in which Al-Jolani admitted to fighting in Iraq and carrying out bombings there, with Sanad highlighting Jolani’s statement that he “wouldn’t wish to do the same in Syria.” Sanad questioned the hypocrisy of such actions. Similarly, Ahmad Mulla Talal (Post Impact: 18%) described Al-Jolani as a “rented rifle to achieve a specific goal and mission,” predicting he will be “thrown into the nearest drain after the mission is completed.”

8. Mosul’s Third Bridge Reopens After Maintenance

Local news from Mosul focused on the reopening of a key piece of infrastructure. The page Mosul (Post Impact: 8%) officially announced the opening of the Third Bridge. This was echoed by Bab Al-Toub (Post Impact: 5%), which also shared a video confirming the bridge’s reopening following the completion of maintenance work. The event marks a positive development for the city’s infrastructure and daily life.

9. Iraqi Officials Address Security at the Syrian Border

In response to the escalating situation in Syria, Iraqi officials and security-focused pages moved to reassure the public about the stability of the border. The page Support for Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 6%) quoted Minister of Defense Thabet Al-Abbasi, who affirmed that the provinces of Nineveh, Anbar, and the border with Syria are completely secure with no risks. The same page also noted a statement from the Army Chief of Staff about large reinforcements (Post Impact: 4%) being sent to the Al-Qaim border crossing. The Minister of Interior’s Media Office (Post Impact: 3%) also reported on a visit by the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee to the Border Forces Command, where the Minister of Interior reiterated that the borders are fully secured with high-level fortifications.

10. Sadrist Movement Commentary on Syrian Events

A specific political viewpoint on the Syrian crisis emerged from pages affiliated with the Sadrist movement. The page Mohammed Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 24%) posted commentary reflecting on Muqtada al-Sadr’s statement a month prior telling his followers to “start exercising,” which is now being interpreted as foresight for the recent events. The post emphasizes that al-Sadr’s call not to intervene in Syria and to prioritize Iraq’s security was the “correct” and “realistic” position. In another post, the same page praised Sadr’s followers for their loyalty, contrasting it with those who might criticize the movement’s decisions, as seen in a video post from Mohammed Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 41%).