Based on a Miqrab AI analysis of 443 Facebook posts trending in Iraq on May 17, 2026, the primary focus of online discussion revolves around the new Iraqi government and its initial actions. The activities of new ministers, particularly Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad, are being closely watched, alongside high-level political engagements such as a phone call from Muqtada al-Sadr to the new Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaydi. Concurrently, security operations for the religious commemoration of Imam al-Jawad’s martyrdom received significant attention. Other prominent narratives include a heated social debate sparked by a call to ban women from smoking shisha in public, ongoing concerns about regional security involving drone attacks launched from Iraq, and the somber issue of newly discovered mass graves and the plight of missing persons.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Mustafa Sanad’s First Actions as Communications Minister

Mustafa Sanad, the new Minister of Communications, garnered significant attention for his immediate actions upon taking office. His page, Mustafa Sanad – مصطفى سند (Post Impact: 74%), announced a directive to cancel the use of honorifics like “Your Excellency Minister” and “Your Excellency,” calling them “superfluous and not officially approved descriptions.” Additional posts from his page (Post Impact: 39%) and the official Iraqi Ministry of Communications (Post Impact: 9%) page showed him greeting and touring the ministry’s departments on his first day to inspect the workflow and follow up on employee performance. Sanad also took to his page (Post Impact: 9%) to warn followers that old video clips featuring his image were being circulated to cause confusion.

2. Muqtada al-Sadr Calls New Prime Minister al-Zaydi

The page The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 43%) reported that Muqtada al-Sadr made a phone call to the new Prime Minister, Ali Faleh al-Zaydi. According to the post, Sadr congratulated al-Zaydi on the formation of the government and urged him to preserve the country’s sovereignty, improve public services, and stand firm in fighting corruption. The statement noted that Sadr perceived “determination, resolve, and insistence” from the new Prime Minister to improve the situation in Iraq. The news was also shared by pages such as Ahmed Althawaq (Post Impact: 3%), which expressed hope that the broad support for al-Zaydi’s government would be beneficial for Iraq.

3. Security Plan for Imam al-Jawad Martyrdom Anniversary

The security measures for the annual commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad were a major topic. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 7%) announced that Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali Faleh al-Zaydi visited the Joint Operations Command headquarters. He was briefed on the security plan to protect pilgrims in the city of Kadhimiya and praised the efforts of the security forces. The Prime Minister’s office (Post Impact: 14%) and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 2%) shared videos of the security deployment and officials monitoring the situation on the ground to ensure the safety and smooth flow of the large crowds of visitors.

4. Debate Over Women Smoking Shisha in Public

A viral reel from Haidar al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 100%) sparked a significant social debate by calling on the Ministry of Interior to “end the phenomenon of women smoking nargileh (shisha) in public places.” The post received massive engagement and prompted reactions across the platform. In a direct response, the page Al-Marja’ Ja’far Khinjar (Post Impact: 1%) criticized the call, arguing that al-Hamdani has no right to interfere in people’s personal freedoms, whether they smoke shisha or drink alcohol, and accused him of hypocrisy.

5. Fuad Hussein’s Reappointment as Foreign Minister

Multiple pages reported with a tone of irony that Fuad Hussein has begun his duties as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, succeeding the previous minister, who was also Fuad Hussein. The posts from pages like Muhammad Nasser Khalif Muhammad Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 13%) and Ya’ni Tafaddal (Post Impact: 2%) highlighted his continuation in the same role under the new government formation, simply stating, “Fuad Hussein receives his duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs, succeeding the former Minister Fuad Hussein.”

6. Discourse on Mass Graves and Missing Persons

The sensitive topic of mass graves and missing persons was discussed across several pages. Rusly Al-Maliki – رسلي المالكي (Post Impact: 12%) disputed claims about a specific grave, suggesting that evidence, such as a beer can with a 2010 production date, contradicted the narrative that it was from the Ba’athist era. Separately, Ahmed al-Washah (Post Impact: 10%) made the claim that “12,000 of our Sunni people are disappeared and missing at the hands of the damned militias.” Furthermore, Min Baghdad (Post Impact: 2%) reported that political figure Khamis al-Khanjar stated a newly discovered mass grave in the Saqlawiyah area contains victims of forced disappearance.

7. Commemoration of Imam al-Jawad’s Martyrdom

Beyond the security aspect, several political and public figures marked the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad with posts of condolence and reflection. Hakim al-Zamili (Post Impact: 7%) offered condolences to Muslims worldwide. In a more personal post, Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi (Post Impact: 6%) shared a detailed historical account of the pilgrimage rituals and traditions in Kadhimiya from his childhood, including memories of the “Well of Imam al-Jawad.” Pages like Muhammad Nasser Khalif Muhammad Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 3%) also shared commemorative messages, referring to the Imam as “Bab al-Murad” (the Gate of Fulfilling Needs).

8. Drones from Iraq Reportedly Target Saudi Arabia

A significant regional security story was covered by multiple pages reporting a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defense. According to Al-Khawa Al-Nathifa (Post Impact: 5%) and Rusly Al-Maliki – رسلي المالكي (Post Impact: 2%), the statement announced the interception of three drones that entered Saudi airspace from Iraq. The Saudi statement asserted that the Kingdom “reserves the right to respond and will take necessary operational measures against any attempted aggression.” Commentator Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 3%) criticized the action, stating, “They have to involve the country more and more in a regional international war of which it is not a part.”

9. Completion of Al-Shaab Tunnel Project in Baghdad

Several Baghdad-focused news pages celebrated the completion of renovations on the Al-Shaab tunnel along the Qanat Expressway. Pages such as Mashari’ al-Iraq – Iraq Projects (Post Impact: 3%), Shuffl Baghdad (Post Impact: 2%), and Baghdad (Post Impact: 1%) shared photos of the finished work. The pages credited the Baghdad Municipality and its Secretary, Ammar Mousa, for fulfilling their promise and fixing the tunnel, which one post described as a “disaster” of potholes that previously damaged vehicles.

10. Iraq’s Official Stance on Regional Conflicts

In light of regional tensions, news and analysis pages circulated an official statement on Iraq’s foreign policy. Both Al-Khawa Al-Nathifa (Post Impact: 3%) and Al-Khaliyya al-Taktikiyya (Post Impact: 2%) quoted the spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The statement affirmed that “Iraq adopts a policy of moving away from axes of conflict to preserve its stability.” It further clarified that Iraq will not permit its territory to be used as a launching point for attacks on other countries, nor will it accept attacks on Iraq or interference in its internal affairs.