Based on an analysis of 433 X / Twitter posts conducted by Miqrab AI on October 24, 2026, the dominant narratives in Iraq centered on escalating domestic political tensions and regional instability. The most prominent conversations involved warnings from politician Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali to Tishreen activists against collaborating with Muqtada al-Sadr, reflecting deep-seated political rivalries. Simultaneously, there was widespread anxiety over heightened US-Iran tensions playing out on Iraqi soil, amplified by US travel warnings, reports of airstrikes on Iran-backed factions, and factions vowing allegiance to Iran. Other key topics included the federal government’s decision to halt oil exports from the Kurdistan region, social media controversy surrounding an actress’s visit to the Iranian embassy, and a diplomatic spat sparked by an Iraqi official’s anti-Iran remarks.

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

1. Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali Warns Tishreen Activists of Muqtada al-Sadr

Politician Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali issued strong warnings to Tishreen protesters, advising them to beware of Muqtada al-Sadr and his followers ahead of planned demonstrations. In posts by Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali/My Word for History (Post Impact: 100%) and a second post from the same account here (Post Impact: 92%), he described Sadr as a “killer thief” and an “insignificant agent of Iran” whose goal is to protect the current governments, contrasting this with Tishreen’s aim to overthrow the entire system. While clarifying he neither called for nor prevented the protests, he stated his responsibility was to warn his followers against Sadr’s “filth” and “faded slogans,” emphasizing that Tishreen’s true slogan is “Iran out, out, Baghdad remains free.” The sentiment of the protest movement’s return was also shared by accounts like Mohamed Almaroof (Post Impact: 8%), which posted a video with the hashtag #Tishreen_is_back.

2. Heightened US-Iran Tensions Spill into Iraq

Widespread discussion focused on escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with Iraq as a central theater. Multiple accounts, including Mazin Al-Eshaiker (Post Impact: 12%) and Dr. Zaid Abdul-Wahab Al-Adhami (Post Impact: 9%), shared US State Department warnings advising American citizens to prepare to leave Iraq, stating the Iraqi government cannot guarantee their safety. Political analyst Dr. Ihssan Al-Shmary (Post Impact: 32%) interpreted these warnings as a sign that “the distancing between Washington and the Al-Zaydi government has begun.” Concurrently, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 23%) circulated a Sharq Al-Awsat report alleging recent airstrikes destroyed Iranian-supplied Chinese air defense systems belonging to Iraqi factions in Baghdad. This was followed by a statement from the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” shared by Ali Farhan (Post Impact: 10%), which declared it a “duty to stand with Iran” against US-Israeli aggression.

3. Actress Alaa Hussein at Iranian Embassy Sparks Controversy

A video of Iraqi actress Alaa Hussein being honored at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad generated significant controversy. Posts from accounts like Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 42%) and Raad Hashim (Post Impact: 10%) questioned her presence there, with the latter noting she was being honored for her artistic achievements and for attending Khamenei’s funeral procession in Mashhad. Others, such as Cliff Captain (Post Impact: 19%), framed the event more critically, describing it as an example of “soft power and cultural occupation” and referring to the Iranian diplomatic mission as the “Embassy of the Entity in Baghdad.”

4. Baghdad Halts Oil Exports from Kurdistan Region

News circulated that the Iraqi federal government, under Prime Minister Al-Zaydi, ordered a halt to oil exports from the Kurdistan Region and informed Turkey to stop purchasing this oil. According to Yasser Eljuboori (Post Impact: 24%) and Haydar (Post Impact: 17%), the decision was made because Baghdad was not receiving any revenue from these sales. Muna Sami (Post Impact: 29%) added information from her sources, claiming that over 300 tankers of smuggled Iraqi oil headed for Turkey were stopped at the border. She stated that while she has reservations about the current government, “this step deserves support to preserve the wealth of future generations” and predicted an attack on Al-Zaydi from smugglers.

5. Commemoration of Fatima al-Zahra’s Martyrdom

The anniversary of the martyrdom of Fatima al-Zahra was a major topic of discussion. Dr. Hussein Al-Safi (Post Impact: 40%) shared a lengthy religious narrative highlighting her significance in Shia theology to commemorate the day. The event also had a direct impact on public life, as Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 22%) reported that the Governor of Baghdad, Al-Atwani, announced an official public holiday in the capital for the occasion. Political and religious leader Ammar Al-Hakim (Post Impact: 13%) also marked the day, describing her life as a “timeless school of faith, awareness, and insight.”

6. PM’s Advisor Sparks Diplomatic Row with Iran

Statements by Dr. Abdul-Amir al-Ta’iban, an advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, caused a diplomatic incident with Iran. As reported by Haydar (Post Impact: 8%), the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad issued a statement condemning the remarks and demanding the Iraqi government take action. In response, a statement attributed to Al-Ta’iban, shared by Abu Maryam (Post Impact: 10%) and Shaho Al-Qaradaghi (Post Impact: 7%), defended his position, stating that issues like drug trafficking and currency counterfeiting “affect Iraq’s sovereignty and economic security and are not subject to compromise or courtesy.” Conversely, Ahmad Abdul-Sada (Post Impact: 17%) strongly criticized the advisor, arguing his official title gave the insults a formal nature and showed ingratitude for Iran’s help in fighting ISIS.

7. Government Announces Mass Hiring and Permanent Contracts

Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi’s office announced major employment decisions following a meeting on the 2027 federal budget. According to the official statement shared by the Prime Minister’s Media Office (Post Impact: 8%) and echoed by accounts like Ali Farhan (Post Impact: 7%), the government directed the granting of permanent status to all contract employees and the creation of 120,000 new contract-based positions. The announcement stated these jobs would be distributed fairly among provinces based on population. However, the news was met with some skepticism by Muna Sami (Post Impact: 7%), who questioned the move’s feasibility amid an economic crisis, asking, “Which of the two decisions reflects our reality??!! The paradise of appointments or the fire of the crisis??!!!”

8. Media Personalities Emad Bajalan and Muna Sami in Public Feud

A public feud erupted between media personalities Emad Bajalan and Muna Sami. A highly engaged post by Emad Bajalan (Post Impact: 33%) consisted of a video directly addressing and insulting Sami. The conflict was further highlighted by Hiba Al-Nnayib (Post Impact: 10%), who shared the same video, describing it as Bajalan “insulting and shaming the cheap mercenary journalist” Muna Sami. The posts indicate a sharp and personal disagreement playing out in the public sphere.

9. Aftermath of Terrorist Attack on Church in Jordan

Iraqi social media users reacted to the aftermath of a terrorist attack on a church in Karak, Jordan. Haydar (Post Impact: 23%) expressed frustration that the perpetrators had not been caught despite their faces being visible, while Sufian Al-Samarrai (Post Impact: 8%) shared a statement from the King of Jordan vowing to hold accountable anyone who justified or sympathized with the attack. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 6%) also commented, expressing solidarity with Jordan and stating that “the security of our Arab peoples is one.” Othman Al-Mukhtar (Post Impact: 7%) condemned ISIS ideology as the root of such attacks and offered condolences to the people of Jordan.

10. Life Sentence for Man Convicted of Spying for Israel

Several pages reported on a significant court ruling in a national security case. According to posts by Haydar (Post Impact: 11%) and Abu Maryam (Post Impact: 10%), the Iraqi judiciary sentenced a man named Haydar Kazem Hassan Al-Fawadi to life in prison. He was convicted of leaking security information, including photos and coordinates of military sites belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), to Israel. The reports state he did this in exchange for promises of money and a house in Erbil, and that he sent the information to Iraqi national intermediaries who then passed it on to “hostile entities.”