Based on an analysis of 144 X / Twitter posts on August 14, 2026, Miqrab AI identified several key themes and narratives dominating online discussions in Iraq. The most viral story involved a young girl from Basra who recited a poem sharply critical of Iran in front of the Minister of Oil and the Governor of Basra, drawing widespread praise for her bravery. Another significant topic was former U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement about declaring the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory, which sparked conversations about regional tensions and sovereignty. Domestically, discussions focused on political corruption, including the discovery of thousands of ISIS members’ families receiving salaries from the Martyrs’ Foundation, and controversy surrounding remarks by a former minister. There were also growing concerns about inter-provincial strife between Basra and Dhi Qar, as well as continued calls for the return of displaced residents to Jurf al-Sakhr.

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

1. Basra Girl’s Anti-Iran Poem Goes Viral

A video of a young girl from Basra reciting a poem that strongly condemns Iran in front of the Minister of Oil and the Governor of Basra has become the top trending topic. Multiple accounts shared the clip, praising the girl’s courage and describing her as a “Basrawiya worth a thousand men.” Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 100%) hailed her as the “daughter of Basra,” while Salim Al-Jomaili (Post Impact: 16%) noted that she “embarrassed” the officials and called for her protection from potential accusations of offending the sect. Similarly, Nazar Haidar (Post Impact: 14%) shared the video with the caption, “A Basrawi sister of men throws a stone at the charlatan merchants of blood.” Tamara Alkhazraji (Post Impact: 3%) contrasted her actions with those she called “Iranian tails.”

2. Trump Threatens to Claim Strait of Hormuz

Statements from former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Strait of Hormuz fueled significant discussion. Ali Farhan (Post Impact: 13%) and Abu Maryam (Post Impact: 7%) both quoted Trump as saying, “Soon I will declare the Strait of Hormuz as land belonging to the United States of America!” Hussein Arab (Post Impact: 7%) interpreted this as the “ultimate goal” of a U.S.-Iran conflict: American control over the strait to impose fees and a naval blockade. Sufian Al-Samarrai (Post Impact: 5%) suggested that in honor of this move, the strait should be renamed “Trump Strait.” Meanwhile, Shaho Al-Qaradaghi (Post Impact: 12%) reported that Iraq’s Oil Minister, Basim Mohammed Al-Abadi, is negotiating with both the U.S. and Iran to secure passage for Iraqi oil exports, noting Iran’s continued insistence on blocking them.

3. ISIS Families Found on Martyrs’ Foundation Payroll

A major corruption scandal has been reported involving the Martyrs’ Foundation. According to Hydikm (Post Impact: 31%), the Iraqi Martyrs’ Foundation announced it had found the names of 17,000 slain ISIS members whose families were receiving salaries from the institution as “martyrs.” In a related story, Wasan Al-Shaikhli (Post Impact: 5%) stated that 18,000 fraudulent transactions were discovered in Anbar province for “Daeshis” registered as victims of terrorism, calling on the central government in Baghdad to launch an urgent and transparent investigation into the matter.

4. Israel’s Strike on Houthis Seen as a Model

Sufian Al-Samarrai (Post Impact: 38%) drew a comparison between Israel’s actions against the Houthis and how Gulf states should deal with Iran and its proxies. He stated that when Israel decided to teach the Houthis a lesson for attacking its territory, it struck the port of Hodeidah and other ports, causing the Houthis to “tremble like a rat.” He noted that Israel left a couple of piers open for humanitarian aid, which stopped further attacks. Al-Samarrai contrasted this with the Houthis’ current attacks on alternative ports used by Gulf states, urging them to “try to act like Israel with Iran and its gangs,” asserting that they would find them to be “more cowardly than you imagine.”

5. Inter-Provincial Tensions Between Basra and Dhi Qar

Hydikm (Post Impact: 21%) warned of a “rising sedition in the South” that is being fueled by external media campaigns and “fools chasing likes.” The post described videos from Basra mocking power outages in Dhi Qar province, while at the same time, Basra residents are giving an exaggerated welcome to Kuwaitis, who he claims have killed Basrawi fishermen and occupy their lands. Conversely, videos have emerged from Dhi Qar calling to cut off the Badaa water project from Basra, a move he compares to the actions of Yazid. The account urged residents of both provinces to be more aware and responsible and not to be drawn into provocations during a period of significant state transformation.

6. Calls to Internationalize the Jurf al-Sakhr Issue

Several accounts discussed the ongoing situation in Jurf al-Sakhr and the displacement of its residents. Mustafa Al-Dulaimi (Post Impact: 11%) called for the internationalization of the case to secure the return of the area, which he described as a “military barracks for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard” and a site for missile and drone factories. Omar Al-Janabi (Post Impact: 7%) shared recent footage of women in the Bzeibiz camps west of Baghdad, who have been displaced for 12 years due to armed militias controlling Jurf al-Sakhr. Similarly, Tariq Al-Hashimi (Post Impact: 2%) described the issue as a “deep wound in the conscience” and warned that ignoring demands to return residents could push the file to the international community, making its resolution more urgent.

7. Controversy Over Former Minister’s Remarks on Sectarian Violence

A video of former Interior Minister Bayan Jabr, referred to as “Solagh,” sparked outrage. Salim Al-Jomaili (Post Impact: 22%) posted a clip showing the former minister laughing about what he called “good work” during the sectarian war, which Al-Jomaili interprets as referring to beheadings. The post questioned what history will write about this official, highlighting what he called a “level of recklessness.” The video shows the former minister reminiscing about the period, seemingly with amusement, which drew sharp condemnation from the account.

8. Criticism of Foreign Ministry Official’s Religious Proposal

Salim Al-Jomaili (Post Impact: 19%) criticized a proposal by an official he identifies as “Al-Anbouri,” the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for drones and UAVs. The post claims the official wants to convert Iraqi diplomatic missions abroad into “Husseiniyas,” suggesting names like “Husseiniyat Iraq in Amman” and “Husseiniyat Iraq in London.” Al-Jomaili sarcastically commented that with this, “the achievements will be complete,” expressing strong disapproval of the idea of altering the secular and diplomatic nature of Iraq’s foreign embassies.

9. Security Forces Discover 71 “Fake” PMF Headquarters

Aayad Al Twfan (Post Impact: 16%) commented on the news that 71 “fake” headquarters, not affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), have been closed. The post expresses astonishment that these sites, which he says would have included buildings, fighters, weapons, and vehicles, could exist in the middle of cities without being discovered by security services. The account argues that if these 71 fake headquarters went undetected, people should not be surprised if Israeli bases exist in Iraq’s deserts. The post concludes that this matter “should not pass without notice.”

10. Electricity Undersecretary Arrested for Corruption

The arrest of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Electricity on corruption charges was a topic of discussion. Essam Hussein (Post Impact: 12%) identified the official as Khalid Ghazai Al-Ma’adhidi, the Undersecretary for Transmission and Distribution Affairs. The post alleges that Al-Ma’adhidi belongs to the “party of the Anbar leader” and claims that because of his sectarian and political affiliation, no “patriots” will speak out against him or demand accountability. The account provides a detailed list of Al-Ma’adhidi’s previous roles and responsibilities within the ministry, highlighting his involvement in international loans and projects.