Based on an analysis of 450 Facebook posts trending on January 24, 2026, Miqrab AI identified several key themes and narratives dominating online discourse in Iraq. The overwhelming focus of the day was the official nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a third term by the Shia Coordination Framework. This news triggered a polarized reaction, with numerous high-engagement posts vehemently opposing his return, while others reported celebratory demonstrations in his support. This central event spurred secondary narratives, including intense political maneuvering as Kurdish and Sunni blocs met with Baghdad leaders to discuss government formation, revealing divisions within the Sunni camp over al-Maliki’s candidacy. Other significant conversations included a journalist publicly denouncing a smear campaign using AI-generated images, security concerns over US military movements in Nineveh, and debates about the potential resurgence of ISIS.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Al-Maliki Nominated for Prime Minister by Coordination Framework

A large number of pages announced that the Shia Coordination Framework has officially nominated Nouri al-Maliki for the position of Prime Minister for a third term. Pages like Al-Khwah al-Nathifa (Post Impact: 83%) and Set Ashwaq Um al-Qanuniyah (Post Impact: 25%) reported the news as a formal decision. Other pages, including Maher Mouhi::Sawt Humat al-Watan (Post Impact: 11%) and Diyala TV (Post Impact: 2%), also confirmed the nomination. Some content creators framed the announcement with headlines like, “Rejoice, O Iraq… Al-Maliki as Prime Minister for the third time,” as seen in a video by Al-Itlami Qahtan Adnan (Post Impact: 8%).

2. Widespread Opposition to al-Maliki’s Potential Third Term

The nomination of Nouri al-Maliki was met with significant opposition from several influential figures on Facebook. Haidar al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 59%) posted a video stating his past prediction, “I said it before: if the angels gathered with the Framework, he will not return for a second term.” Similarly, MP Mustafa Sanad – Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 51%) shared a video with a stark warning, asking his followers to remember it in 2027 and asserting, “By Abbas, not a single word is true.” Writer Rusly Al-Maliki – Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 5%) expressed grave concern, stating, “If he sits on the chair, Iraq is finished.”

3. Kurdish Parties Engage in Government Formation Talks

Amidst the news of al-Maliki’s nomination, Kurdish political parties were actively engaged in discussions with key Baghdad leaders. The page Al-Khwah al-Nathifa (Post Impact: 15%) claimed that Masoud Barzani announced the KDP’s support for al-Maliki’s candidacy. Meanwhile, several official pages documented meetings with a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) delegation led by Qubad Talabani. The official page of Nouri AlMaliki – Nouri Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 10%) reported on his meeting with the PUK delegation to discuss forming the government. Both Prime Minister Al-Engineer Mohammed Shia Al Sudani (Post Impact: 3%) and politician Mohammad Alhalboosi (Post Impact: 3%) also shared details of their separate meetings with Mr. Talabani, focusing on completing constitutional requirements and forming the new government.

4. Sunni Political Bloc Divided Over al-Maliki’s Nomination

Reports emerged of a divided stance within the Sunni political bloc regarding Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination. The page Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 1%) claimed that the National Political Council representing Sunnis had issued a statement rejecting the nomination. However, this was contradicted by a post from Min Baghdad (Post Impact: 2%), which stated that the Azm Alliance denied any agreement on such a statement and affirmed its respect for the Coordination Framework’s decisions. Further complicating the picture, Center Al-I’lam al-Iraqi (Post Impact: 2%) quoted Defense Minister Thabit al-Abbasi as saying that the anti-Maliki statement did not represent everyone in the Sunni bloc.

5. US Military Convoys Spotted in Nineveh Province

Several pages shared videos purportedly showing American military convoys moving through Nineveh province. Two separate posts from Ahmed Al-Washah (Post Impact: 4%) and Ahmed Al-Washah (Post Impact: 4%) described the scene as “American convoys parading in the streets of Nineveh” and claimed they were being protected by armed factions. Another page, Salfa w Nos (Post Impact: 2%), also shared a similar video showing American vehicles near Rabia in Nineveh province, raising questions among users about the US military’s movements in the area.

6. Journalist Muna Sami Denounces AI-Generated Smear Campaign

Journalist Muna Sami posted a strong rebuttal to what she described as an AI-generated smear campaign against her. In her post, Muna Sami (Post Impact: 68%) acknowledged that images circulating of her are fake, stating, “It is no secret that these images are artificial intelligence… The problem is the natural stupidity in the mind of those who believed them.” She argued that the campaign was not just a personal attack but an attempt to undermine the Iraqi military institution. Sami vowed to continue defending Iraqi fighters regardless of their religion or political beliefs, referring to those behind the campaign as “quarter-men” and reaffirming her support for the armed forces.

7. Security Concerns Over ISIS and Detainee Transfers

Security concerns, particularly regarding ISIS, were a topic of discussion. The page Al-Khalia al-Tacticiya (Post Impact: 5%) sought to reassure the public, telling them not to be deceived by “scare campaigns” and asserting that “Iraq today is not the Iraq of yesterday” and that any terrorist enemy “will be crushed.” Conversely, former minister Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaidi (Post Impact: 2%) warned of a “Trojan horse” project, citing a US Central Command announcement about transferring 150 ISIS detainees from Hasakah, Syria, to a secure location in Iraq, with a potential total of 7,000 to be moved. He expressed concern over this development and the takeover of al-Hol camp by other militant groups, deeming it a great danger to Iraq’s national security.

8. Saraya al-Salam Engages with Official Security Forces

The official media directorate for Saraya al-Salam (Peace Companies) published posts detailing recent outreach activities with official Iraqi security forces. According to one post, Muqtada al-Sadr’s Jihadi Assistant, Abu Mustafa al-Hamidawi, conducted a field visit to the Special Tasks Force headquarters in Najaf. In another post, the directorate reported that a delegation visited the provincial police command and other official security departments in Wasit. These posts, from Saraya al-Salam- Mudiriyat al-I’lam al-Markazi (Post Impact: 2%) and a second post from the same page (Post Impact: 1%), framed the visits as being directed by Muqtada al-Sadr to offer support and strengthen fraternal relations with state security forces.

9. Satirical Reactions to al-Maliki’s Potential Return

The popular satirical program Albasheer Show reacted to the news of Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination with critical humor. In one video reel captioned “A small part of what’s to come,” Albasheer Show – albasheer show (Post Impact: 6%) hinted at future satirical content targeting the politician, using the hashtag #عودة_يوري (The Return of Yuri), a nickname for Maliki. A second post from the same page (Post Impact: 5%) was more direct, stating, “Even the lame jokes are back with Nouri.” These posts reflect a segment of the public discourse that is using satire and mockery to express apprehension and criticism towards al-Maliki’s potential return to power.

10. Reports of Celebrations Following al-Maliki’s Nomination

In contrast to the widespread criticism, some Facebook pages reported that the announcement of Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination was met with public celebrations. A video shared by the page Min Baghdad (Post Impact: 5%) was captioned, “Popular celebrations and road blockages after the announcement of al-Maliki’s nomination for the next government!” Similarly, the page Al-Adhamiya News (Post Impact: 2%) also reported on “popular celebrations in Baghdad” following the news. These posts suggest that while there is significant opposition, there is also a base of support for al-Maliki that welcomed the Coordination Framework’s decision.