In an analysis of 496 Facebook posts trending on October 9, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives dominating the social media landscape in Iraq. The most prominent theme was a surge in national pride following the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service’s victory in an international competition, which garnered widespread celebration across numerous pages. Domestic politics were also a major focus, with significant discussion around the performance of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s government, including both praise for infrastructure projects and speculation about political attacks against him. Conversations also centered on controversial political events, such as the return of Sunni cleric Rafi al-Rifai, and Iraq’s relationship with the United States, particularly concerning military presence and political strategies. Regional developments, notably the ceasefire in Gaza, prompted both commentary and street celebrations in Baghdad.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service Wins International Competition

Iraqi pages widely celebrated the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) for winning first place in the 14th annual International Warrior Competition held in Jordan. The official Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service ICTS page (Post Impact: 100%) announced the victory, noting they surpassed 38 teams from 23 different countries. The head of the ICTS, Lieutenant General Karim Al-Tamimi, congratulated the winning team and dedicated the victory to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani and the Iraqi people. Other pages like The Tactical Cell (Post Impact: 20%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 14%) echoed the news, highlighting that the ICTS was officially ranked first in the world and among Arab nations. The victory was portrayed as a reflection of the high level of training, discipline, and professionalism of Iraqi forces, reinforcing a narrative of national strength and competence.

2. Controversy Surrounding the Return of Rafi al-Rifai

The return of Sunni cleric Rafi al-Rifai to Iraq has sparked significant controversy and debate. The page Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (The Clean Brotherhood) (Post Impact: 23%) shared a clip of MP Alia Nassif recounting how former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki once sent her to persuade al-Rifai to return and work with the government, an offer he refused at the time. Other pages expressed outrage over his return and pardon. Ammar Al-Hilfi (Post Impact: 8%) contrasted al-Rifai’s case, who he says incited violence against the army and police, with that of a young man jailed for three years for insulting the Interior Minister. Similarly, a clip posted by Sahar Abbas Jamil (Post Impact: 5%) featured a commentator stating that al-Rifai’s return was imposed by an “external will.”

3. PM Al-Sudani’s Government Touts Infrastructure Achievements

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s government’s achievements, particularly in infrastructure, were a prominent topic. The Prime Minister’s official page, Engineer Mohamed Shia Al Sudani (Post Impact: 20%), highlighted the completion of approximately 21 drinking water projects across Baghdad and the provinces, with 40 more underway. The page The Government Palace (Post Impact: 2%) celebrated the opening of the Al-Zuhour water project. This narrative of progress was also picked up by other pages, including Wahed Watan (One Nation) (Post Impact: 6%), which sarcastically noted that critics downplay Al-Sudani’s accomplishments as being “just bridges, hospitals, and schools,” implying these are significant achievements that have solved issues like water shortages.

4. Speculation on Political Attacks Against PM Al-Sudani

Alongside praise for his government, there was considerable discussion about the motivations behind political attacks targeting Prime Minister Al-Sudani. A video on Dr. Hanan Al-Fatlawi‘s page (Post Impact: 20%) directly questioned the reasons for the criticism leveled against him. This theme was further explored on the Wahed Watan (One Nation) page (Post Impact: 2%), which featured a clip of Al-Fatlawi claiming that Al-Sudani’s opponents’ “problem is that you are afraid of success.” Adding another layer to the speculation, the page of journalist Sahar Abbas Jamil (Post Impact: 2%) shared a commentator’s claim about the “secret” of a dispute between former PM Nouri al-Maliki and Al-Sudani, alleging the latter met with a “US-backed individual.”

5. Discussions on US Military and Political Strategy Towards Iraq

Discussions surrounding the United States’ military presence and political intentions in Iraq generated high engagement. The page Al-Ghasala (The Washing Machine) (Post Impact: 39%) posted a dramatic video showing military vehicles, reporting the entry of 50 new American vehicles into Iraq and questioning if “War is coming❗.” Separately, the page Mohammed Jabbar (Post Impact: 26%) shared a clip from his show featuring analyst Nizar Haider, who discussed former US President Donald Trump’s alleged plan for Iraq. According to a follow-up clip on the same page (Post Impact: 4%), Haider claimed that Trump has decided that Iraqi armed factions “will remain as they are.”

6. Reactions to the Announcement of a Ceasefire in Gaza

The announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza was met with relief and celebration on Iraqi social media. The page Set Ashwaq Om Al-Qanounia (Post Impact: 10%) posted a heartfelt message stating, “Finally… the war has stopped. The cannons fell silent after exhausting the land with crying.” Journalist Muna Sami (Post Impact: 5%) framed the outcome as a victory for the people of Gaza, asserting that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who had refused to negotiate, was “forced” to accept the truce. The page The Tactical Cell (Post Impact: 2%) also reported that Hamas had agreed to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange, which would be signed in Egypt.

7. Urban Development and Beautification Projects in Baghdad

Positive posts about urban renewal and beautification efforts in Baghdad were trending, creating a narrative of a city returning to its former glory. The Government Palace (Post Impact: 13%) shared a video of a clean and decorated alley in the Al-Shawaka area of Baghdad, attributing the positive change to residents who love their country. The page Baghdad Projects (Post Impact: 4%) announced the start of a major project to plant trees along the 23km Army Canal, which had been neglected for a decade, to create a large green belt in the capital. This sentiment was shared by pages like Iraqeen W Bas (Iraqis Only) (Post Impact: 3%), which posted a video with the caption “Beautiful Baghdad.”

8. US Sanctions Target Iraqi Officials

The imposition of US Treasury sanctions on Iraqi officials was another key topic. The page of journalist Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 6%) highlighted that the US Embassy in Baghdad was openly naming specific factions in its statements, noting that “The talk has become heavy.” A subsequent post on the same page (Post Impact: 4%) described the sanctions against the head of the Iraqi Olympic Committee as “embarrassing” for Iraqi sports, especially with the next Olympic Games being held in the US. The Baghdad page (Post Impact: 2%) also reported on the sanctions, naming Aqil Miftan and others as being targeted for their alleged involvement in supporting armed factions and money laundering.

9. Ministry of Higher Education’s AI Partnership with Google Draws Mixed Reactions

A new initiative by the Ministry of Higher Education to provide Iraqi university students with access to Google’s AI tool, Gemini Pro, received both praise and skepticism. Journalist Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 7%) called the announcement a “new scandal” and a “lie,” claiming in a separate post (Post Impact: 5%) that Minister Naim Al-Aboudi took credit for an achievement in which he played no role. In contrast, the page Abu Al-Arif (Post Impact: 2%) praised the move as a “big step” that could change the future of education in Iraq, providing students with free access to a powerful tool and 2 terabytes of cloud storage.

10. Iraqis Celebrate Gaza Ceasefire in Baghdad Streets

Following the news of a ceasefire in Gaza, multiple Iraqi Facebook pages shared videos of spontaneous celebrations in the streets of Baghdad. The page Iraqeen W Bas (Iraqis Only) (Post Impact: 4%) posted a clip with the caption, “#Now | Celebrations in the streets of Baghdad on the occasion of the ceasefire in Gaza.” Similarly, the page Maher Mohi::Voice of the Nation’s Protectors (Post Impact: 2%) shared a video reporting that Baghdad’s streets were celebrating the event. These posts indicate a sense of solidarity and joy among some residents of the Iraqi capital regarding the end of hostilities in Gaza.