Based on an analysis of 454 Facebook posts trending on March 10, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The most engaging topics included widespread weather alerts for upcoming thunderstorms, political calls for increased security scrutiny over foreign workers due to economic and security concerns, and official government announcements, such as the declaration of a public holiday. Security incidents, including arrests near the Syrian embassy and a major cyberattack on a fact-checking organization, also garnered significant attention. Additionally, social media users shared news about the upcoming disbursement of public sector salaries, followed Ramadan-related activities of religious figures, and discussed popular entertainment programs.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Widespread Forecasts of Rain and Thunderstorms

Multiple Iraqi Facebook pages shared weather alerts from the Iraqi Meteorological Organization, forecasting thunderstorms for the coming hours in Baghdad and several other governorates. Pages such as Al-Khuwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 5%), From Iraq (Post Impact: 2%), and Diyala TV (Post Impact: 2%) reported on the impending severe weather, with some noting the heavy rainfall had already begun in areas like Diyala. Other pages like Nafs Iraq (Post Impact: 1%) followed up by stating that the low-pressure system was expected to end the following day.

2. Calls to Monitor Foreign Workers Citing Security Risks

Hakem Al-Zamily, a prominent political figure, published a widely shared statement calling for a comprehensive security and intelligence survey of all foreign workers in Iraq, including those in oil and investment companies, as well as religious tourists and residents. His page (Post Impact: 12%) argued this measure is crucial to prevent potential threats and limit negative impacts on the Iraqi economy. This narrative was complemented by security news from pages like Support for Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 3%), which reported that border guards in Sulaymaniyah arrested 21 individuals of Asian nationalities who attempted to enter Iraq illegally. Meanwhile, Ahmad Althawaq (Post Impact: 2%) stated that European countries are beginning to feel the threat of “extremist Syrians” and called for similar deportations from Iraq.

3. Official Holiday Announced for March 16

The government’s decision to declare Sunday, March 16, 2025, an official holiday was a major news item. The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers (Post Impact: 10%) announced that the holiday commemorates the victims of crimes committed by the former Ba’athist regime, citing the Halabja and Anfal campaigns, mass graves, the Sha’baniyah Uprising, and the assassination of scholars. The announcement, based on the Official Holidays Law No. 12 of 2024, was also shared by the official Government of Iraq (Post Impact: 1%) page.

4. Tech 4 Peace Organization Hit by Major Cyberattack

The non-profit organization Tech 4 Peace (Post Impact: 7%) reported that its website was subjected to one of the largest cyberattacks since its founding. According to their statement, the attack involved 1.43 billion requests, which is over 500 times larger than a previous attack in 2022. The organization noted that the assault was highly organized, originating from a diverse range of IP addresses, making it difficult to trace. The news prompted expressions of solidarity from other pages, such as Rusly Al-Maliki – Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 1%), who praised the platform’s role in exposing disinformation.

5. News of Salary Payments Before Eid Holiday

Several pages shared reassuring news for public sector employees and beneficiaries of social welfare programs, stating that all salaries would be distributed before the upcoming Eid holiday. Eyes of Iraq (Post Impact: 7%) and Nafs Iraq (Post Impact: 1%) both posted brief announcements confirming that payments for retirees, social welfare recipients, and government employees would be processed ahead of the holiday. This topic is of high public interest and typically generates significant engagement when shared.

6. Arrests Made Near Syrian Embassy in Baghdad

Security-focused pages reported on an incident at the Syrian Embassy in Baghdad, where authorities arrested six individuals. According to Al-Khuwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 7%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 1%), the individuals were detained after attempting to breach the security perimeter around the embassy. The posts also mentioned that security reinforcements were dispatched to the location as a precautionary measure against a potential demonstration.

7. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Ramadan Activities

The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 6%) actively shared updates on his religious activities during Ramadan. The page published answered questions from followers, posted videos of his Quranic interpretation lectures, including one on Surah Al-Mursalat, and shared photos of worshippers attending the ninth night of Ramadan prayers at the Fatimah Al-Zahra Mosque in Najaf, an event organized under his direction. These posts highlight his continued religious engagement with his followers during the holy month.

8. Commemoration of Iran-Iraq War’s “Crown of Battles”

The anniversary of the “Taj al-Ma’arik” (Crown of Battles) from the Iran-Iraq War was commemorated by pages like Rusly Al-Maliki – Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 4%) and Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 1%). The posts recounted the events of March 1985, when Iraqi forces reportedly defeated a large-scale Iranian offensive north of Basra. The narrative highlights the role of the Iraqi Republican Guard, Air Force, and Army Aviation in repelling the attack, which Iran had named Operation Badr, pushing Iranian forces back to the border in what was described as a “humiliating defeat.”

9. TV Show “Hamdh Hilu” Cast Visits Mosul

Entertainment news circulated about the cast of the popular program “Hamdh Hilu” visiting Mosul. Video clips shared by Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 4%) and Mosul (Post Impact: 2%) showed the show’s stars in the city, generating local interest and engagement from fans of the program. The visit highlights the return of cultural and media activities to Mosul.

10. Viral Video of Doctor Selling Cigarettes in Sadr City

A video shared by Alaa batti (Post Impact: 100%) received massive engagement by telling the story of a man named Abbas, who is reportedly a doctor but now sells cigarettes in Sadr City. The post, captioned “Abbas is a doctor and sells cigarettes in Sadr City,” sparked a strong emotional response online, with many users expressing sympathy and concern over the circumstances that would lead a medical professional to such a situation, reflecting broader anxieties about unemployment and economic hardship for educated individuals in Iraq.