Based on an analysis of 468 Facebook posts on June 17, 2025, Miqrab AI found that the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel dominated online conversations in Iraq. Numerous high-engagement posts reported on alleged Israeli airstrikes in Tehran, subsequent missile launches by Iran, and threatening statements from both sides, as well as from former US President Donald Trump. A secondary, but highly impactful, narrative focused on an analysis of Israel’s psychological and media warfare strategy targeting the Arab world. Domestically, key topics included the Iraqi government activating an emergency operations room over fears of a potential radiation leak and parliamentary discussions condemning violations of Iraqi sovereignty amid the regional turmoil.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Israel’s Arabic-Language Psychological Warfare

A highly engaged post by Mustafa Alhadithi (Post Impact: 100%) provides a detailed analysis of Israel’s media strategy toward the Arab world. The post argues that Israel uses figures of Arab origin as part of an integrated security and media plan to conduct psychological warfare. It names specific individuals like Avichay Adraee, Ella Waweya, and Edy Cohen, describing their roles in “soft normalization,” breaking stereotypes, and spreading disinformation to sow division. Alhadithi asserts this is a tactic of “cognitive and moral targeting” that uses an understanding of local Arab culture as a weapon. This theme of psychological warfare is echoed by Dr. Mudhaffar Qasim Hussein (Post Impact: 12%), who stated that “America, Trump, the entity and their tools use psychological warfare media.”

2. Reports of Israeli Airstrikes on Tehran

Multiple pages reported on alleged Israeli airstrikes targeting Tehran, causing widespread alarm and discussion. Baghdad (Post Impact: 67%) posted an image of an empty street, describing an “unprecedented calm in the Iranian capital Tehran, the city that was teeming with life.” Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 61%) reported a “giant explosion in Khojir (a missile construction center) southeast of Tehran after it was targeted by Israeli aircraft.” Similarly, Set Ashwaq um Alqanunia (Post Impact: 52%) described “the most violent raids on Tehran” with smoke and fire that were “not normal.” These posts created a narrative of a significant military escalation directly targeting the Iranian capital.

3. Iraq Activates Emergency Room for Radiation Leak Fears

News of the Iraqi government taking precautionary measures against a potential radiation leak circulated widely. Alkhowa Alnadifa (Post Impact: 63%) and Al-Adhamiya News (Post Impact: 19%) both reported that Iraq has activated its emergency room “in anticipation of any potential radiation leak.” The posts did not specify the source of the potential leak, but the timing suggests it is related to the regional conflict and attacks on sensitive sites, leading to public concern about the potential cross-border consequences for Iraq.

4. Sudden Death of Brigadier General Manaf Ismail Mourned

The sudden death of Brigadier General Manaf Ismail was a significant topic of discussion, generating a high level of engagement. The page Akher Alahdath Aliraqia (Post Impact: 71%) announced his passing, describing him as “honest and kind” and someone who “dealt with people with all credibility and humanity.” The post conveyed a sense of shock and grief, mentioning the cries of his family, particularly his wife and children, and mourning his unexpected death.

5. Iraqi Parliament Condemns Sovereignty Violations

Iraqi politicians responded to the regional conflict by condemning the violation of Iraq’s airspace. In a video from a parliamentary session, Dr. Hanan Al-Fatlawi (Post Impact: 47%) stated, “The time has come to cancel the agreement with the American side.” Her intervention was part of a session “dedicated to discussing the Zionist aggression on the Islamic Republic and the violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.” Similarly, Al-Naib Al-Doctor Haider Al-Salami (Post Impact: 8%) shared a video from the same session, criticizing the Council of Representatives for failing to achieve a quorum for a meeting about the country’s sovereignty.

6. Iranian Officials Vow a “Surprise” Response

Several pages amplified statements from Iranian official sources promising a significant retaliation against Israel. Man Baghdad (Post Impact: 38%) and Ahmed Althawaq (Post Impact: 9%) both quoted Iranian television as saying, “There is a surprise tonight that the world will remember for centuries!” Diyala TV (Post Impact: 8%) also shared the quote, heightening anticipation and tension among social media users about the nature and scale of Iran’s threatened response.

7. Iran Launches New Missile Wave Towards Israel

Following reports of strikes on Tehran, multiple pages announced that Iran had launched its own attacks. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 39%) posted an urgent update stating, “A new wave of Iranian missiles is being launched towards Israel.” This was corroborated by Man Baghdad (Post Impact: 32%), which announced that Iran was targeting Israeli air bases in new attacks. These posts confirmed that the conflict had entered a retaliatory phase, with both sides actively launching strikes.

8. Donald Trump Issues Warnings to Iran

Statements attributed to former US President Donald Trump regarding the conflict were shared across Iraqi Facebook pages. Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 25%) reported that Trump called on Iran to surrender unconditionally and stated, “The Supreme Leader is an easy target and we will not eliminate him at the present time. Our patience is running out.” Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 14%) added that military intervention against Iran was “on the table” during a meeting between Trump and his national security team. Toraf Alalam Biuyun Iraqia (Post Impact: 6%) also quoted Trump as saying, “We know exactly where the Supreme Leader of Iran is hiding.”

9. Focus on Threats to Iraq’s Oil Sector

Attention was drawn to the vulnerabilities and challenges facing Iraq’s oil industry through reports of smuggling and accidents. The Baghdad (Post Impact: 30%) page, citing economist Nabil Al-Marsoumi, reported that two oil tankers collided near the Strait of Hormuz, one of which was the “Front Eagle, loaded with two million barrels of Iraqi crude oil.” In a separate post, Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaidi (Post Impact: 11%) discussed the pervasive issue of oil smuggling, stating that around 180,000 barrels are smuggled daily from northern Iraq, costing the country nearly $4 billion annually. Together, these posts highlight significant financial losses and risks to Iraq’s primary economic resource.

10. Journalist Mona Sami’s Reunion with Mother After Hajj

Amid the tense political news, a personal and heartwarming story about journalist Mona Sami gained traction. The pages Shaer Banat (Post Impact: 12%) and Kleicha (Post Impact: 8%) both shared a video of Mona Sami emotionally welcoming her mother upon her return from the Hajj pilgrimage. The posts, captioned “Journalist Mona Sami receives her mother from Hajj 🤍,” offered a moment of positivity and familial connection that resonated with users.