Based on an analysis of 406 Facebook posts trending on December 19, 2024, Miqrab AI found that the dominant narratives in Iraq centered on government activity and political developments. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s promotion of investment, housing, and infrastructure projects generated the highest engagement, portraying a government focused on reconstruction and public services. Concurrently, political tensions were visible through public disputes between politicians, official complaints against media outlets, and a significant reshuffling of key security positions. Pages also focused on public service announcements, such as the Ministry of Electricity’s promises for the upcoming summer and weather forecasts predicting rain, alongside reporting on tragic local events and the ongoing activities of influential political figures.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. PM Al-Sudani Launches New Investment and Housing Projects

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s activities were the most discussed topic, led by his own official page. Engineer Mohamed Shia Al Sudani (Post Impact: 100%) announced that he chaired a meeting of the Higher Committee for Reconstruction and Investment, which approved new projects in housing, tourism, and energy. A key decision was the launch of four new residential complexes—three in Baghdad and one in Najaf—for the families of martyrs, to be implemented with private sector participation and state funding. In a separate interview summarized by pages like Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 19%) and Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 14%), Al-Sudani stated that 2024 was a “year of achievements” that will continue into 2025, and that his government is addressing thousands of stalled projects inherited from previous administrations.

2. Baghdad Celebrates New Infrastructure and Construction Boom

A strong narrative of progress in Baghdad’s infrastructure was prominent across several highly engaged pages. Iraq Projects (Post Impact: 60%) shared a video of the newly completed Martyr Hassan Nasrallah bridge in the Al-Fadhiliya area. Other pages, such as Baghdad (Post Impact: 42%) and The Governmental Palace (Post Impact: 20%), focused on the Al-Nisour Tunnel, sharing videos of the final touches and announcing that its opening is just days away. The Governmental Palace page also celebrated the accelerated pace of development, stating, “Previously, people would wait 5 years or more for a project or bridge to open, now every two weeks or less we publish a new achievement.”

3. Political Feuds Escalate with Lawsuits and Media Complaints

Tensions among Iraqi political figures were highly visible. MP Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 46%) announced he filed a complaint with the Communications and Media Commission against Al-Fallujah TV, which he states is owned by Khamis al-Khanjar, for broadcasting “racist, sectarian, and inflammatory rhetoric.” Sanad accused Al-Khanjar of being one of the biggest beneficiaries of the current political system while simultaneously criticizing it. In a separate development, journalist Ahmad Mulla Talal (Post Impact: 42%) responded to legal action taken against him by the Prime Minister. Talal acknowledged the PM’s right to resort to the judiciary and asserted his own right to a defense, ending with the defiant statement, “But remember, I have witnessed the change of 7 prime ministers before you, and I am still Ahmad Mulla Talal.”

4. Major Shake-up in Security Leadership Appointments

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani made significant changes to key security posts, a topic widely covered by news and political pages. The page Al-Khawa Al-Nadifa (The Clean Brotherhood) (Post Impact: 32%) reported that the Prime Minister officially assigned Hamid Al-Shatri to the presidency of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service. In another major change reported by the same page Al-Khawa Al-Nadifa (Post Impact: 35%), the Minister of Interior appointed Major General Uday Samir as the new Director General of the General Traffic Directorate. The appointment was officially confirmed by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 9%).

5. Electricity Ministry Pledges Improved Service for Next Summer

The Ministry of Electricity made new promises regarding the perennial issue of power shortages, drawing significant attention online. Breaking News (Post Impact: 43%) reported that ministry spokesman Ahmed Al-Mousa promised that “the upcoming summer will witness a clear improvement.” Al-Mousa added that an early maintenance campaign has been launched for power stations to ensure they are ready for the peak season. The same promise was echoed by other pages, including Fed Daqiqa (A Minute) (Post Impact: 10%), indicating widespread public interest and skepticism regarding the ministry’s ability to deliver on its commitments.

6. Tragic Accidental Death of Rapid Response Forces Colonel

A tragic incident involving a high-ranking officer was reported across multiple pages. The page Latest Iraqi Events (Post Impact: 32%) reported that Colonel Mohammed Khalid Al-Masari, of the Rapid Response Division, was killed at his home. According to the post, the colonel had asked his 12-year-old daughter to bring him his weapon, and a bullet was accidentally discharged, striking him in the head. The Media Office of the Minister of Interior (Post Impact: 5%) issued an official condolence statement from Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, confirming the death of Colonel Mohammed Khalid Saeed due to a “household accident” and offering condolences to his family.

7. Widespread Anticipation of Heavy Rain Across Iraq

The forecast of rain generated positive engagement and anticipation on social media. Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 33%) shared a video with the caption, “Let’s welcome the rain and pray upon our master, the Messenger.” Other pages, including Diyala TV (Post Impact: 13%), specifically announced rain for the Diyala governorate. The page From Iraq (Post Impact: 7%) cited the meteorological authority in reporting that 24 hours of rain were expected to begin in the evening, signaling a significant weather event for the country.

8. Khamis Al-Khanjar Under Scrutiny and in the Spotlight

Politician Khamis Al-Khanjar was a central figure in multiple, distinct narratives. He was the subject of a formal complaint by MP Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 46%) for allegedly owning a TV channel promoting sectarianism. At the same time, Al-Adhamiya News (Post Impact: 15%) reported Al-Khanjar’s comment that the accusations against former Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi were “moral” in nature. In a move aimed at public outreach, the same news page also reported that Al-Khanjar made a “public commitment” to personally finance the marriages of 200 young Iraqi couples, as shared by Al-Adhamiya News (Post Impact: 13%).

9. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Continued Humanitarian and Political Activities

The ongoing influence of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was evident through posts detailing the activities of his affiliated organizations. The Private Office of Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 21%) highlighted the continued humanitarian work of the Al-Sadr family’s guesthouse in Lebanon, which it stated provides meals and food supplies to the Lebanese people under al-Sadr’s supervision. On the political and military front, the Saraya al-Salam – Central Media Directorate (Post Impact: 13%) announced that, following al-Sadr’s directives, the “Jihadi Deputy” held a meeting with leaders of the 307th Brigade in Wasit province, demonstrating continued organizational activity.

10. Narratives of Stability and Progress in Baghdad Shared Online

Several pages promoted a positive image of life in Iraq, contrasting the reality on the ground with negative perceptions online or abroad. Ahmed Al-Thawaq (Post Impact: 21%) described a vibrant Baghdad with full restaurants and shopping centers, contrasting this with what he called false narratives on Twitter about a supposed “Ba’athist coup.” Similarly, The Governmental Palace (Post Impact: 12%) shared a photo from the Mansour district in Baghdad, commenting, “and someone comes and tells you Iraq’s situation is like Syria’s!! Good for our people, they deserve more.” This narrative was reinforced by summaries of the Prime Minister’s interview, where he stated that “Iraq is on the right track” and enjoys unprecedented political stability, as reported by Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 19%).