Based on an analysis of 533 X / Twitter posts trending on December 30, 2024, Miqrab AI has identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The most prominent discussion revolved around a speech by Raghad Saddam Hussein on the anniversary of her father’s execution, which elicited strong reactions from both supporters and detractors. Concurrently, the evolving situation in Syria under the new leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa (al-Jolani) was a major topic, with users drawing comparisons to Iraq’s post-2003 experience and debating the implications for the region. The anniversary of Saddam Hussein’s death was marked by sharply divided commentary, reflecting ongoing political and social fissures. Other significant trends included criticism of Kuwaiti media personalities, calls for Iraq to withdraw from the Gulf Cup over alleged sectarianism, and discussions on domestic security operations against ISIS.

Today’s Top 10 X (Twitter) Trends in Iraq:

1. Raghad Saddam Hussein’s Commemorative Speech

On the anniversary of her father’s execution, Raghad Saddam Hussein delivered a speech that became the top trending topic. Her official account, Raghad Saddam Hussein (Post Impact: 100%), shared the address where she commented on regional crises, warned of potential challenges for Iraq, and rejected a “sectarian-divided Iraq.” She asserted her direct involvement in politics, stating, “I have never put someone in the forefront to be behind the scenes,” and added, “You have believed in my role, and I will be at a high level of responsibility.” The speech sparked widespread debate. Accounts like Mahdi Majeed (Post Impact: 21%) criticized her for focusing on Israel while ignoring the US and militias involved in her father’s downfall, calling her “stupid like her father.” Others, such as Dr. Qusay Shafiq (Post Impact: 7%), questioned the meaning behind her statement “I will be up to the responsibility,” while Dr. Laith Shubbar (Post Impact: 5%) called for international legal action against those who glorify Saddam.

2. The New Leadership and Situation in Syria

The political transformation in Syria under Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly al-Jolani) was a major focus of discussion, with many users drawing parallels and contrasts with Iraq. Ahmad Akhu Maz’al Basra-Iraq (Post Impact: 77%) shared a video claiming the new “terrorist” government in Syria punishes those who miss Friday prayers with 25 lashes, using the hashtag #Terrorism_has_violated_Syria. In contrast, accounts like Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 26%) and Dhafer Alani (Post Impact: 6%) suggested that al-Sharaa’s decisions indicate he has learned from the “failed experience” of Iraq after 2003, avoiding pitfalls like sectarian quotas and de-Ba’athification. Omar Abdul Sattar Mahmoud (Post Impact: 41%) explicitly compared al-Sharaa to a “new Saddam Hussein.” Meanwhile, Ahmad Abdul Sada (Post Impact: 17%) provided a detailed analysis attributing the fall of the Assad regime to its own failures and poor governance, arguing that Bashar al-Assad ignored advice from his allies in the “Axis of Resistance.”

3. Anniversary of Saddam Hussein’s Execution

The 18th anniversary of Saddam Hussein’s execution prompted polarized reactions on Iraqi social media. Many accounts celebrated the occasion as a day of liberation from tyranny. Abbas Shamsuddin (Post Impact: 32%) posted an image of Saddam’s hanging, calling it the “Global Day of Humiliating Tyrants.” Similarly, Dr. Haider Al-Barzanji (Post Impact: 19%) congratulated the Iraqi people on the anniversary and extended thanks to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for signing the execution order. Wasan Al-Shaikhli (Post Impact: 28%) shared what was described as the “last picture of the tyrant Saddam Hussein.” In a contrasting view on public sentiment, the account Haider (Post Impact: 5%) quoted the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, which claimed that most Iraqis, including Sunnis, did not commemorate or care about the anniversary.

4. Tensions with Kuwaiti Media Personalities

Several high-engagement posts expressed anger towards Kuwaiti media figures, particularly Fajer Alsaeed and Fahad Al-Dhafiri, for their perceived insults against Iraq. The account Al-Shabandar (Post Impact: 43%) directly addressed the Emir of Kuwait, writing, “O Emir of Kuwait, hold back these dogs. Tie them up, Sheikh. Their barking at Iraq has crossed the line.” This sentiment was echoed by others who felt the criticism from Kuwait was excessive. Hussam Alhaj (Post Impact: 12%) asked Fajer Alsaeed to “leave us in our misery,” suggesting her commentary was unwelcome. Another user, Adam (Post Impact: 8%), listed insults previously directed at Alsaeed by an Iraqi political analyst and suggested she either sue him or stay silent.

5. Calls for Iraq’s Withdrawal from Gulf Cup

A significant narrative, primarily driven by the account Bahaa khaleel Bahaa khaleel (Post Impact: 54%), called for Iraq to withdraw from the upcoming Gulf Cup tournament. The user claimed that when the Saudi team plays against Iraq, their fans shout, “You are Shiite polytheists,” but do not have a problem with Shia fans from Iran. This perceived sectarianism was presented as the primary reason for withdrawal. The same account, Bahaa khaleel Bahaa khaleel (Post Impact: 11%), later shared the results of a poll with over 12,000 participants, showing that 63% supported withdrawing from the tournament. The posts argued that it would be better for the Iraqi national team to play friendly matches against higher-ranked teams and avoid the pressures of a “non-recognized” tournament like the Gulf Cup.

6. Debates on Iraqi Politics and Governance

Discussions surrounding Iraq’s political landscape featured prominent figures defending their actions and commentators criticizing government policies. Politician Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali/My word for history (Post Impact: 41%) responded to criticism about his meetings by reminding followers that he used to meet with the Saddam-era “opposition” who later “ruled Iraq… stole it and killed its sons!” In a critique of current economic policy, Bahaa khaleel Bahaa khaleel (Post Impact: 39%) condemned a deal to import gas from Turkmenistan via Iran, alleging the arrangement was designed to benefit Iran financially, asking, “Have you ever seen more subservience than this?” This was echoed by _. suhair Al_jumaili (Post Impact: 10%), who cited Russian media outlet RT claiming that Iraq pays $1 billion annually for this gas.

7. Counter-Terrorism Operations in Hamrin Mountains

News from the security front focused on operations against ISIS remnants in the Hamrin Mountains. The official account of the Counter-Terrorism Service (Post Impact: 29%) announced the death of soldier Hadi Hamid Naama during clashes with ISIS. The post mourned the “hero martyr” and offered condolences to his family. Further details on the operation were shared by the account Haider (Post Impact: 13%), which reported that seven ISIS members were killed and that security forces destroyed 22 hideouts and five tunnels in the same area. The same account also posted a separate tribute to the fallen soldier, naming him as Mahdi Hamid from the Kirkuk CTS regiment.

8. Calls for Regime Change and Protests

A notable trend involved calls for the “overthrow of the current system” in Iraq, largely propagated by the account Haider (Post Impact: 28%). The user announced that the following day would be dedicated to covering “military movements” aimed at toppling the government, using hashtags like #يوم_سقوط_النظام (Day of the Fall of the Regime). In a follow-up post, the same account (Post Impact: 12%) issued a series of “important instructions” for the anticipated event. These instructions urged people to stay home until “Communique No. 1” is broadcast, to not damage state property, and to follow the official page of politician Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali for further directives.

9. PMF Arrests Italian Tourist Over a Book

An incident involving the arrest of a foreign tourist by Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) personnel drew criticism and concern for Iraq’s tourism industry. Journalist Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 24%) reported that PMF elements detained an Italian tourist at the entrance of Salah al-Din province. The alleged reason for the arrest was the tourist’s possession of an internationally recognized academic book about the history of ISIS. Nabil described the PMF’s actions, including publishing photos of the tourist, as “very disgraceful” and a “direct blow against the tourism sector in Iraq.” The incident was also mentioned by Ghaith Al-Tamimi (Post Impact: 8%) as one of the negative events marking the end of the year in Iraq.

10. Speicher Massacre Added to University Curriculum

A decision by Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education to incorporate the 2014 Speicher Massacre into university curricula received positive feedback online. The account Haider (Post Impact: 31%) was among the first to announce the news, stating that the crime and the national liberation battles would be included in academic studies. This move was praised by commentators like Yasser Eljuboori – Yasser Eljuboori (Post Impact: 5%), who called it “perhaps the best achievement of the Ministry of Higher Education in recent years,” emphasizing the importance of reminding future generations of the “great crime at the hands of terrorism.”