Based on an analysis of 377 Facebook posts trending on December 19, 2025, conducted by Miqrab AI, the primary narratives in Iraq revolved around a mix of national pride, security concerns, and domestic frustrations. The most engaging stories celebrated the landmark appointment of former President Barham Salih to a top UN position, a source of significant positive commentary. Conversely, high engagement was also driven by security incidents, particularly the assassination of a high-ranking police officer in Kirkuk and the arrest of a controversial militia leader. Public discontent with local governance was evident in viral posts criticizing the poor state of infrastructure in Diwaniyah. Other key topics included historical revelations about a pre-war Jordanian plan for Iraq, successful Iraqi intelligence operations abroad, and widespread observance of the Yazidi Eid al-Sawm holiday, reflecting the country’s diverse social fabric.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Barham Salih Appointed UN High Commissioner for Refugees

The UN General Assembly’s election of former Iraqi President Barham Ahmed Salih as the next UN High Commissioner for Refugees was a top story, sparking messages of pride. The official United Nations Iraq page (Post Impact: 70%) shared the announcement from Secretary-General António Guterres, highlighting Salih’s distinguished career and personal experience as a refugee. Commentator Mona Sami (Post Impact: 20%) celebrated that Salih is the “first person from the Middle East and the first Kurd” to hold the position in over 45 years. She framed the appointment as a personal achievement for Salih rather than an institutional one for the Iraqi state, yet still a symbolic accomplishment for all Iraqis.

2. Assassination of Police Colonel in Kirkuk and Arrests

Social media platforms widely followed the assassination of Colonel Zid Adel Sabih Girgis, a Kirkuk police officer who was shot and killed by assailants in front of his home. Initially, the Media Office of the Minister of Interior (Post Impact: 8%) published a statement from the minister vowing to pursue the perpetrators. The story developed quickly, with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 7%) later announcing that the motive was criminal and the killers were two of the victim’s colleagues. Pages like Maher Muhi::sawt hamat alwatan (Post Impact: 14%) and Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 6%) reported that one of the suspects committed suicide while the other, his brother, was arrested and confessed.

3. Videos Criticize Poor Infrastructure in Diwaniyah

Viral videos shared by Hassan Zuher Hakim (Post Impact: 63%) generated significant engagement by highlighting the dilapidated state of infrastructure in Diwaniyah. One video, simply captioned “The entrance to Diwaniyah city!!!”, showed neglected and decaying public areas. A second highly engaged post from the same account (Post Impact: 47%) focused on similar conditions in the “center of Diwaniyah province!!!”. The strong public reaction to these posts indicates widespread frustration over the perceived failure of municipal services and urban management in the city.

4. Declassified Docs on Jordan’s 2003 Plan for Iraq

A single post from Al-Khuwa al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 100%) received massive engagement for its summary of a “Middle East” newspaper report on newly declassified British documents. The documents reportedly reveal that ahead of the 2003 invasion, King Abdullah II of Jordan proposed a plan to British Prime Minister Tony Blair to expand Hashemite influence in post-Saddam Iraq. The plan included the possibility of installing his uncle, Prince Hassan, in a leadership role. The page concluded by noting that American officials did not show interest in the proposal at the time.

5. Militia Leader Wathiq al-Battat Arrested by PMF Security

The arrest of Wathiq al-Battat, leader of the Mukhtar Army, was reported across several news-focused pages. According to Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 24%), the arrest was conducted by the PMF’s security directorate (Amn al-Hashd) for “insulting the institution” after al-Battat made media statements critical of Iran and the PMF. Ahmed Althawaq (Post Impact: 12%) and Al-A’dhamiya News (Post Impact: 3%) added that the arrest was based on an official judicial warrant for insulting security institutions and the Popular Mobilization Forces.

6. Iraqi Intelligence’s ‘Saqour Cell’ Conducts Syria Operation

Pages covering security affairs praised a recent cross-border operation by the Iraqi Intelligence Service’s “Saqour Cell” (Falcons Cell) in Syria. Al-Khalia al-Tactikiya (Post Impact: 17%) provided an in-depth analysis, noting that this was neither the first nor the last such operation and quoting the cell’s founder, Abu Ali al-Basri, on Iraq’s capability to strike terrorist targets globally. Another account, Fadel Abu Ragheef (Post Impact: 23%), also shared details of the operation, highlighting the external reach of Iraq’s security forces.

7. Officials and Public Celebrate Yazidi Eid al-Sawm

The Yazidi holiday of Eid al-Sawm (The Fasting Feast) was widely recognized on Iraqi Facebook, with congratulations coming from political figures and the public. Al-Khuwa al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 11%) noted the holiday follows a three-day fast and coincides with calls to determine the fate of kidnapped Yazidis and ensure the return of displaced families. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 5%) shared a message of goodwill from PM Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, while other leaders like Dr. Khalid Al-Obeidi (Post Impact: 7%) and Ayad Allawi (Post Impact: 4%) used the occasion to call for justice and reconstruction in Sinjar.

8. Reports of Factions Joining Move to Disarm

A developing story covered by Ahmed Al-Washah (Post Impact: 17%) claimed that notable figures from armed factions are beginning to disarm. The page specifically mentioned that Qais al-Khazali had “joined the ranks of the disarmers,” and in another post, added Haydar al-Gharawi of the “Awfiya” militia to the list (Post Impact: 7%). The commentary accompanying these posts suggested this was the “beginning of the end” for these groups, arguing they were driven by a pursuit of power and wealth and would lose influence without their weapons.

9. Official Holiday Announced for Christmas

News pages informed the public about an upcoming official holiday for Christmas. Posts by Nafs al-Iraq (Post Impact: 13%) and ‘Uyun al-Iraq (Post Impact: 9%) officially stated that Thursday, December 25, would be a public holiday. The information was presented as a straightforward announcement of interest to the general public.

10. Iraqi Pages Report on Heavy Flooding in Dubai

News of severe weather and flooding in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, captured the attention of Iraqi social media users. Pages like Al-Iqtisadiyun al-Iraqiyun (Post Impact: 7%) and Shaffl Baghdad (Post Impact: 4%) shared posts and images showing streets in Dubai inundated with water following heavy rains. The reports mentioned that authorities had declared an emergency and closed public spaces like parks and beaches as a result of the extreme weather conditions.