Based on a Miqrab AI analysis of 499 Facebook posts trending in Iraq on September 11, 2025, the social media landscape was dominated by domestic politics and regional security concerns. The most engaging topic was Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s public activities, particularly the inauguration of the renovated Al-Rashid Street in Baghdad, which received widespread positive coverage. Significant attention was also given to a major political realignment among Sunni leaders Mohammed al-Halbousi, Khamis al-Khanjar, and Mashaan al-Jubouri ahead of upcoming elections. Regional tensions were a key theme, with extensive discussion on the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Qatar and a retaliatory cyberattack by Turkish hackers against Israel. Conversations also revolved around public sentiment on election participation, the controversial release of Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, and news concerning Iraqi security forces.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. PM Sudani Inaugurates Renovated Al-Rashid Street

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s inauguration of the first renovated section of Al-Rashid Street in Baghdad was a top story, portrayed positively across several pages. Al-Qasr al-Hukoumi (The Governmental Palace) (Post Impact: 98%) shared a video of the event, highlighting the “great love from the people” for the Prime Minister. Sudani’s official page, Al-Mohandes Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Post Impact: 5%), detailed that the project is part of a broader initiative to revive historic Baghdad and includes restored building facades, new infrastructure, and a heritage tram line. Pages like Wahid Ri’asa (Presidency One) (Post Impact: 16%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 11%) also covered the opening, showing the return of public life to the iconic street. The project was noted as a collaboration between the Baghdad Municipality, the Iraqi Private Banks League, and the Central Bank of Iraq.

2. Sunni Leaders Form Alliance Ahead of Elections

A significant political development captured attention as prominent Sunni leaders announced a unified front. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 30%) reported on a “lengthy meeting” between Taqadum Party leader Mohammed al-Halbousi, Sovereignty Alliance leader Sheikh Khamis al-Khanjar, and politician Mashaan al-Jubouri. Nabil quoted al-Jubouri stating they “agreed to put aside any side differences… and to work together in the next stage.” The official pages of Mohammed al-Halbousi (Post Impact: 23%) and Khamis al-Khanjar (Post Impact: 13%) confirmed the meeting, stating that discussions covered the political situation, upcoming elections, and important files concerning the citizens of northern and western Iraq, emphasizing the need to “unify positions” to serve their constituents.

3. Regional Tensions Flare After Israeli Strike on Qatar

Facebook pages extensively covered the escalating tensions between Israel, Qatar, and Turkey. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 29%) reported that the Emir of Qatar was in a “difficult position” after attending the funeral of a Qatari Interior Ministry member and Hamas elements, turning a state that “enjoyed security and stability” into a “victim of aerial aggression.” In a related development, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 26%) and Al-Khalia al-Taktikia (The Tactical Cell) (Post Impact: 8%) detailed a retaliatory cyberattack by Turkish hackers. They reportedly leaked the personal phone number of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, made a video call to him, and published coordinates of alleged Israeli military bases and the identities of Turkish citizens in the Israeli army.

4. Public Polled on Participation in Upcoming Elections

The question of whether to participate in or boycott the upcoming elections was a major topic of discussion, driven by a highly engaging poll. The page Hukm al-‘Awa’il (Rule of Families) (Post Impact: 100%) directly asked its followers, “45 million Iraqis, are you among the boycotters or the participants?”. Meanwhile, political figures encouraged participation. Markaz al-I’lam al-Iraq (Iraqi Media Center) (Post Impact: 4%) quoted Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, who described voting as a “legitimate, national, and moral duty.” In response, the page Maraya (Mirrors) (Post Impact: 8%) conducted its own poll, asking followers if they would participate based on al-Mashhadani’s directive.

5. Viral Reel Warns Against Online Misinformation

A short, humorous reel with the simple caption “Don’t believe everything..” gained significant traction, reflecting a broader sentiment of skepticism towards online content. The video, posted by Hussein – IMADTech (Post Impact: 89%), resonated widely with audiences. While the content of the reel itself is comedic, its high engagement suggests that the message about the prevalence of misinformation and the need for critical consumption of online media is a relevant and shared concern among Iraqi social media users.

6. Mother’s Grief Over Son’s Emigration Goes Viral

A deeply emotional video posted by journalist Ali Athab (Post Impact: 62%) captured the story of a grieving mother. The post’s caption expresses the mother’s painful words to her deceased son: “My son, I want you to take care of my grave, why did you leave me and travel?” The video highlights the profound personal tragedies behind the broader issue of youth emigration, a sensitive and recurring topic in Iraqi society. The high impact of the post indicates that this personal story of loss and separation struck a powerful chord with the public.

7. Release of Elizabeth Tsurkov Sparks Competing Narratives

The release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov after 903 days of captivity in Iraq generated conflicting stories on Facebook. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 12%) shared images released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office showing Tsurkov’s arrival at a hospital in Israel, noting that the Iraqi government had announced her liberation while former President Trump had blamed Kata’ib Hezbollah for her abduction. In contrast, pages like Min Baghdad (From Baghdad) (Post Impact: 14%) and Maraya (Mirrors) (Post Impact: 9%) circulated a counter-narrative from analyst Hashem al-Kindi, who speculated that “America and Israel may have been the ones who kidnapped Tsurkov” to pressure Iraqi factions.

8. Army Personnel Granted Leave for Land Plot Paperwork

News of a directive from the Minister of Defense regarding land distribution for military personnel was shared across several pages. Maher Muhi :: Sout Humat al-Watan (Post Impact: 15%) announced that Minister of Defense Thabet al-Abbasi had ordered that leave be granted to all officers and service members to complete the necessary paperwork for their allocated land plots within two weeks. The page thanked the Commander-in-Chief for his personal intervention. Da’m al-Quwwat al-Amniyya al-Iraqiyya (Support for Iraqi Security Forces) (Post Impact: 9%) also reported on the “urgent directive,” confirming the move was to allow military personnel to finalize their land plot commitments.

9. Police Academy in Basra Graduates New Officer Class

The graduation of the 55th class of high-ranking officers from the Police College in Basra was celebrated in posts by official and pro-security force pages. The Media Office of the Minister of Interior (Post Impact: 5%) announced that the ceremony was held under the patronage and presence of Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari. In his speech, the minister conveyed congratulations from the Prime Minister and emphasized that the graduation was a “bright station in the process of state-building.” Pages like Maher Muhi :: Sout Humat al-Watan (Post Impact: 11%) shared a video of the minister marching with the graduates, and the official Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 8%) page also shared footage from the “distinguished celebration ceremony.”

10. Allegations of Corruption and Political Smear Tactics

Several posts highlighted concerns over corruption and the use of personal attacks as political weapons. The page Maraya (Mirrors) (Post Impact: 8%) cited MP Amir al-Ma’mouri’s claim of corruption within the Ministry of Education, alleging that the cost to build three toilets in one school was 180 million dinars. Meanwhile, Bint al-Iraq (Daughter of Iraq) (Post Impact: 22%) posted a video with the comment, “Anyone who opposes them, they take them down by [attacking their] honor.” This sentiment was echoed by journalist Salim Mashkour (Post Impact: 12%), who made a historical comparison by stating that the former regime also used smear tactics, claiming, “Saddam had a unit to violate the honor of officials and film them to blackmail and subdue them.”