Based on a Miqrab AI analysis of 407 Facebook posts trending on June 23, 2026, the primary online conversations in Iraq centered on a major anti-corruption operation that uncovered billions of dinars buried underground, a viral social scandal allegedly involving a government official, and official preparations for the annual Muharram religious pilgrimages. Discussions about the corruption case involving former Deputy Minister of Oil Adnan al-Jumaili dominated engagement, with many pages praising the judiciary and security forces. Simultaneously, a leaked video sparked widespread debate, with some dismissing it as a distraction while others attempted to defend those involved or clarify misinformation. Other significant topics included celebrations for footballer Lionel Messi’s birthday, questions raised by a former official about the government’s use of state revenues, and statements from the Minister of Interior on protecting both his officers and the dignity of citizens.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Massive Corruption Case: Billions Found Buried

The top trending story across Iraqi Facebook was the major anti-corruption case involving former Deputy Minister of Oil Adnan al-Jumaili, from whom authorities recovered massive sums of stolen money. MP Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 43%) thanked the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zidan, for his role in protecting public funds and returning 85 billion dinars to the state treasury. In another widely shared post, Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 57%) commented on the absurdity of the situation, saying that those who steal public funds end up burying their loot “with animal droppings and deep in the earth with worms.” Other pages like Markaz al-I’lam al-Iraqi (Post Impact: 3%) reported the discovery of an additional 53 billion dinars buried in Baiji, while Husham Ali (Post Impact: 3%) shared new footage from the Integrity Commission’s operation that led to the seizure of 20 billion dinars.

2. Leaked ‘Immoral’ Video Sparks Widespread Debate

A widely circulated “immoral” video allegedly involving a government official generated significant discussion and controversy. Commentator Salem Mashkour (Post Impact: 7%) urged his followers not to be distracted by the scandal, calling the video “old” and stating that its “protagonists” are no longer in their administrative positions, suggesting it is being used to obscure larger theft cases. Meanwhile, the Alanbar Muhafazati (Post Impact: 6%) page shared a statement attributed to Sheikh Ali al-Asadi, who claimed his sister, Lina al-Mousawi, appeared in the video while working as a tailor and “was taking measurements for the Director General for a new suit.” Fact-checking page Tech 4 Peace (Post Impact: 3%) and the Baghdad (Post Impact: 1%) page worked to debunk misinformation, clarifying that a photo circulating online was of Ali Warid Hammoud, Director General of the Oil Projects Company, who was not the person in the explicit video.

3. Football Fans Celebrate Lionel Messi’s 39th Birthday

Iraqi football fans and social media pages celebrated the 39th birthday of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. The page Hussein – IMADTech (Post Impact: 22%) shared a simple tribute reel that garnered high engagement. Al-Khwa al-Nathifa (Post Impact: 7%) hailed him as “the greatest who ever touched a football through the generations,” celebrating his exceptional career filled with titles and records. Commentator Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 2%) took a more reflective tone, sharing a personal story about how he loves Ronaldo while his son loves Messi, and urged fans to appreciate both players, noting, “we are lucky to see two of the best football players in the world in history in our lifetime.”

4. Interior Minister: Assaulting an Officer is a Personal Affront

Statements by the Minister of Interior regarding the relationship between security forces and the public were a significant topic of conversation. The page Maher Muhyi::Sawt Humat al-Watan (Post Impact: 7%) prominently featured the Minister’s strong warning: “Whoever assaults a member [of the security forces] has assaulted me personally.” In a different post, the same page (Post Impact: 5%) highlighted the minister’s call for better community relations, quoting him as saying forces should appoint welcoming officers to deal with the public because “we are here to serve the people, not the other way around.” The official Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 1%) page reinforced this dual message, stating that “citizen dignity is a red line” and calling for professional and humane treatment of civilians while also protecting the prestige of its officers.

5. Former Official Questions Fate of $140 Billion in Revenue

Serious questions about government finances were raised by former Deputy Minister of Finance, Masoud Haidar, in an interview that gained traction online. The page Yalla (Post Impact: 5%) shared details of the interview, where Haidar claimed that of $345 billion in revenue during the current government’s tenure, a massive $140 billion remains unaccounted for after deducting operational expenses and salaries. Haidar asked, “Where did the remaining amount go?” He also alleged that he was denied access to financial data from the Ministry of Finance because he is a Kurd from the KDP, calling it “unparalleled racial discrimination.” Tapping into a similar theme of financial mismanagement, a video shared by Mohammed Al-Khazaei (Post Impact: 2%) featured commentator Khalid al-Saray emotionally decrying that the country is without a budget while “money is being burned in ovens.”

6. PM Chairs Meeting on Muharram Pilgrimage Security

The government’s preparations for the upcoming Muharram religious pilgrimages were a key focus. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 3%) announced that Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi chaired a meeting of the Higher Committee for Million-Man Visits. The statement noted the Prime Minister stressed the need to provide all services, rely on intelligence rather than overt militarization, and prepare a comprehensive plan for both the Ashura and Arbaeen pilgrimages. The Prime Minister also directed that media messaging should avoid “sectarian slogans” and emphasize the “human values” of Imam Hussein. In a post commemorating the period, politician Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaidi (Post Impact: 6%) praised Al-Abbas bin Ali, calling him the “bearer of the banner of revolution, imamate, and message.” The Prime Minister’s Office (Post Impact: 1%) also shared a video from the meeting.

7. Woman Reportedly Flees Husband with Foreign Worker

A social story about a married woman allegedly eloping with a Pakistani worker in Baghdad was covered by multiple news-focused pages. According to both Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 5%) and Akher al-Ahdath al-Iraqiya (Post Impact: 4%), a woman from Kirkuk was arrested in the Al-Adhamiyah district of the capital. The posts claim her husband tracked her to Baghdad after she fled with the worker and informed the local police, who apprehended the pair in a vehicle. Both pages expressed dismay and shock over the incident, sharing a photo purported to be of the woman and the worker.

8. Government Creates New Ministries of Tourism and Governance

The Iraqi government’s plan to create two new ministries was reported and met with some criticism. The page of Husham Ali (Post Impact: 3%) reported that a Ministry of Tourism would be established for Mr. Al-Asadi and a Ministry of Governance for Mr. Al-Darraji. This development was commented on by Salem Mashkour (Post Impact: 1%), who criticized the move as fiscally irresponsible. He wrote, “They talk about a shortage of funds and then create ministries tailored to individuals,” implying the decision was based on political patronage rather than need.

9. Analysis of Iraq’s Football Match Against France

Commentary on a recent football match between Iraq and France was shared across several pages, with a focus on a key defensive error. The page I’mar al-Iraq (Post Impact: 2%) lamented the mistake, saying a single player gave France a “free goal” that “destroyed the team’s morale” after the French team had failed to create any clear scoring chances from open play. Offering a slightly different take, Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 1%) suggested that the rainy weather helped Iraq by neutralizing the speed and skill of the French players. He noted that Iraq was performing well and the midfield was active after substitutions, right before the “catastrophic mistake” occurred.

10. Minister of Communications Meets with Vodafone Representatives

News of a high-level meeting between the Minister of Communications and the global telecommunications company Vodafone was shared by official and tech-focused pages. The Iraqi Ministry of Communications (Post Impact: 2%) and Al-Taqniya wal-Itisalat (Post Impact: 1%) both reported that Minister Mustafa Jabbar Sanad met with Vodafone representatives, along with a delegation from the British Embassy. The discussions centered on the “national mobile license project” that was initiated by the previous government. The minister was quoted as affirming his commitment to “improving mobile phone services in Iraq.”