Based on an analysis of 473 X / Twitter posts trending in Iraq on August 8, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several dominant narratives circulating on the platform. The most prominent theme was the anniversary of the end of the Iran-Iraq War, which sharply divided users between those celebrating it as a “Great Victory” against Iranian expansionism and others condemning it as a catastrophic and pointless conflict initiated by Saddam Hussein. Other significant conversations revolved around regional instability, with intense focus on the rise of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in Syria and the Lebanese government’s decision to confront Hezbollah. Domestically, discussions highlighted sectarian pride, particularly regarding Shia military capabilities, alongside intra-Shia political tensions involving followers of Muqtada al-Sadr and Ammar al-Hakim, and renewed calls for the de-Ba’athification of state institutions.

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

1. Concern Over Al-Jolani’s Rule in Syria

A video shared by Hayder (Post Impact: 100%) features Syrian actor Bashar Ismail heavily criticizing the Syrian people for supporting Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as al-Jolani. Ismail claims Syrians have a history of blindly following leaders, from the Ottomans to the Assads, and sarcastically suggests they would do the same for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating, “if Netanyahu came now and occupied Damascus, we would sing for him and chant ‘raise your head high, you are a free Israeli’.” This criticism is part of a broader narrative of fear and opposition to al-Jolani’s rule. Accounts like Issam Hussein (Post Impact: 21%) use the derogatory term “Bani Aww” for Jolani’s forces, accusing them of sectarian violence, such as the killing of a Shia man in Homs.

2. Conflicting Narratives on Iran-Iraq War Anniversary

The 37th anniversary of the end of the Iran-Iraq War on August 8, 1988, triggered deeply divided commentary. One perspective, championed by accounts like Raghda Saddam Hussein (Post Impact: 80%) and Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 50%), celebrated the date as the “#Great_Victory_Day” that halted Iranian expansionism and praised the valor of the Iraqi army. Conversely, other users condemned the war as a destructive enterprise led by Saddam Hussein. Naim Al-Aboudi (Post Impact: 54%) argued that the Ba’athist regime immediately followed the war with another disaster by invading Kuwait, leaving both Iraq and Iran “exhausted.” He shared a clip of Saddam allegedly admitting the war was merely “to distract the two peoples.” Similarly, Dr. Haider Al-Barzanji (Post Impact: 19%) posted a video of Saddam’s former intelligence chief supposedly admitting to the defeat.

3. Shia Factions Tout Ballistic Missile Capabilities

A notable trend involved expressions of Shia strength through military technology, specifically ballistic missiles. Emad Al-Musafir (Post Impact: 53%) shared a video of a missile launch with the statement, “The expertise of the Shia is not limited to Latm [mourning rituals], but also includes ballistics.” This sentiment was echoed by Abu Darndash Al-Askari (Post Impact: 40%), who linked a trending “Shia challenge” directly to the group’s missile power, suggesting a deliberate projection of military prowess. The posts frame this capability as a core component of Shia identity and power in the region.

4. Tensions in Lebanon Over Hezbollah’s Disarmament

Events in Lebanon were closely watched, particularly the Lebanese government’s decision to confront Hezbollah. Hiba Al-Nnayib (Post Impact: 40%) posted a video claiming to show a “mass escape of Hezbollah militias” as the Lebanese army arrived in their areas. In a related post, Hayder (Post Impact: 33%) reported on “massive celebrations” in Tripoli, Lebanon, following the government’s decision. The post portrays Tripoli as an extremist hub, alleging that many of its residents joined ISIS in Iraq and questioning what would happen to Lebanon’s Shia population if they were left disarmed and “at the mercy of the people of Tripoli.”

5. Intra-Shia Tensions Between Sadrists and Al-Hakim

Tensions between different Shia factions were evident in several viral posts. Hayder (Post Impact: 37%) shared a video showing a follower of the Sadrist movement confronting an elderly Iranian visitor, demanding that he say “Muqtada al-Sadr is your crown.” In another incident discussed by Hiba Al-Nnayib (Post Impact: 8%) and Alaa Alabadi (Post Impact: 8%), guards for politician Ammar al-Hakim were accused of assaulting a pilgrim during the Arbaeen walk for mentioning Muqtada al-Sadr’s name. These events highlight the sensitive and sometimes confrontational nature of political loyalties within Iraq’s Shia community.

6. Death of Psychologist Ban Ziyad Investigated as Murder

The death of psychologist Ban Ziyad Tariq became a significant topic of discussion as new information emerged. While her death was initially reported as a suicide, a post by Hayder (Post Impact: 28%) stated that security forces arrested her entire family after evidence implicated one of them in the crime. This development shifted the narrative from a personal tragedy to a potential homicide case. Commentator Ali Al-Khalidi (Post Impact: 12%) expressed public concern, asking whether it was “truly suicide or treachery” and calling for a transparent investigation by the judiciary and forensic medicine to uncover the truth.

7. Renewed Calls for De-Ba’athification Measures

Discourse around the legacy of the Ba’ath party intensified, with prominent voices calling for stricter measures. Hisham Ali (Post Impact: 19%) interpreted a recent statement by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on pursuing Ba’ath party members as a prelude to a new wave of de-Ba’athification that could target “influential figures.” This sentiment was echoed more forcefully by Abbas Al-Ardawi (Post Impact: 17%), who argued that existing laws are insufficient and called for the formation of a dedicated “security-military” body to “liquidate the Ba’ath,” giving priority in this effort to the victims of the former regime and their children.

8. Concern Over Calls to Disarm the PMF

The future of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) was a subject of debate, fueled by statements from foreign and local figures. Hisham Ali (Post Impact: 17%) highlighted a comment from the British Ambassador in Baghdad, Irfan Siddiq, who reportedly stated that “the need for the Hashd in Iraq has ended after the defeat of ISIS.” In contrast, Raad Hashim (Post Impact: 7%), citing Al Hadath TV channel, reported that Nouri al-Maliki expressed deep concern to an Iranian official about attempts to disarm the PMF, drawing a parallel to the recent Lebanese government decision to disarm Hezbollah.

9. Syrian Minorities Reportedly Organize Against Al-Jolani’s Rule

Amidst growing concerns about the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime in Syria, reports emerged of minority groups organizing to counter what they perceive as a threat. Hayder (Post Impact: 15%) reported that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hosted a conference in Hasakah that brought together leaders of Syrian minority communities. Participants reportedly included the spiritual leader of the Druze, Hikmat al-Hijri, and the head of the Supreme Islamic Alawite Council, Ghazal Ghazal, alongside Christian leaders, to organize against “Jolani’s barbarism.” Issam Hussein (Post Impact: 10%) framed the conference as a step towards building a state based on civil rights to counter the “criminal” project of al-Jolani’s group.

10. Ammar al-Hakim Defended Amidst Criticism During Arbaeen Walk

Politician Ammar al-Hakim was a central figure in discussions related to the Arbaeen pilgrimage to Karbala. While some posts detailed tensions between his followers and those of Muqtada al-Sadr, others came to his defense. Ahmed Al-Thawaq (Post Impact: 29%) argued that al-Hakim is attacked because he is a “poor, peaceful Sayyid who does not accept harming anyone,” contrasting him with other leaders who have armed followers. Meanwhile, accounts like Dr. Haider Al-Barzanji (Post Impact: 8%) and Hayder (Post Impact: 9%) shared videos showing al-Hakim participating in the pilgrimage and being welcomed by mourners, portraying him as a devout leader walking among the people.