Based on 433 Facebook posts analyzed on March 14, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key themes and narratives trending in Iraq. Political discourse was dominated by the visit of the Syrian Foreign Minister to Baghdad, which prompted official statements of cooperation as well as strong public criticism and protests. This was closely followed by a major security development: the killing of a senior ISIS leader, an event celebrated by government and security pages. Domestic news, including an accident at an amusement park in Karbala and conversations about a sudden heatwave, also captured public attention. Religious life during Ramadan, particularly the activities and statements of Muqtada al-Sadr, was a prominent topic, alongside highly engaging viral entertainment clips.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Syrian Foreign Minister’s Visit to Baghdad Sparks Debate

The visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to Baghdad generated significant and varied reactions. The The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 14%) reported on his meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, emphasizing Iraq’s respect for Syrian sovereignty and its readiness to support Syria’s reconstruction. However, the visit was met with sharp criticism from commentators. Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 35%) sarcastically suggested appointing a militia leader as foreign minister to send to Syria, while Muna Sami (Post Impact: 11%) posted a deeply critical message, referring to the Syrian official as “minister of foreign affairs of al-Jolani” and mockingly apologizing to deceased ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Page Salim Mashkour (Post Impact: 8%) commented that the realities of governance force officials to meet with “criminals and butchers, both Iraqi and foreign.”

2. Iraqi Forces Kill Senior ISIS Leader “Abu Khadija”

A major security victory was announced across multiple official and news pages concerning the killing of a top ISIS leader. The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (Post Impact: 4%) released a detailed statement identifying the target as Abdullah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, known as “Abu Khadija,” who served as ISIS’s “deputy caliph” and head of foreign operations. The operation, a coordinated effort involving Iraqi intelligence, the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), and international coalition forces, took place in the Anbar desert. Pages like Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 4%) and Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 5%) shared the news, highlighting the roles of Prime Minister Al Sudani and the security forces. The The Tactical Cell (Post Impact: 3%) provided further analysis, confirming the identity of the slain leader and debunking earlier false reports of his death.

3. Amusement Park Ride Collapses in Karbala

News of a public safety incident in Karbala circulated on social media after an amusement park ride malfunctioned. The page Alkhuwa Alnazifa (Post Impact: 9%) was among the first to report the collapse of a ride at the “Moonlight” amusement park in the holy city, mentioning initial reports of casualties. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 5%) provided more detail, clarifying that seven people, all women and children, were injured and transferred to a hospital. The post also noted that the city authorities had closed the amusement park until safety conditions are met.

4. Viral Video of Egyptian Man Praising Iraq

A video shared by influencer page Alaa batti Alaa batti (Post Impact: 100%) achieved massive engagement. The clip features an Egyptian man speaking passionately about his love and admiration for Iraq. The page shared the video with the caption, “Look at what this Egyptian man says about Iraq.” The post resonated strongly with the audience, attracting a significant number of positive comments and reactions celebrating the message of cross-cultural appreciation. The high impact rate indicates that this piece of content was one of the most shared and viewed items on Iraqi Facebook for the day.

5. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Ramadan Lectures and Statements

The activities of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr during Ramadan were a recurring theme. His official page, The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 9%), published answers to followers’ questions and shared his Quranic interpretation lectures. A specific statement from one of his lectures drew wider attention, where he suggested that “Surah Adam” would be a more fitting name for Surah Al-Baqarah in the Quran. This claim was addressed by the fact-checking page Tech 4 Peace (Post Impact: 7%), which clarified that while al-Sadr did propose the name change, he did not use the derogatory slang term for “cow” that was falsely attributed to him in some circulating posts.

6. Sudden Heatwave Hits Iraq as Winter Ends

Several pages reflected a popular topic of conversation: a sudden and unseasonal rise in temperatures across Iraq. Set Ashwaq um Alqanunia (Post Impact: 10%) commented on the “crazy” weather, noting that the country seemed to jump directly from floods to July-like heat, forcing people to turn on air conditioning in their cars. Similarly, Diyala Diyala TV (Post Impact: 4%) reported that the Diyala province is bidding farewell to winter with high daytime temperatures that have led residents to start using fans.

7. Debate Over Quality of Ramadan Television Series

The quality of television programming during Ramadan became a topic of discussion. The page Fid Daqiqa (Post Impact: 9%) posted a critical segment questioning the Communications and Media Commission’s oversight of what it called “these farces (Ramadan programs).” This reflects a viewpoint that some of the content being aired is of poor quality or inappropriate. In contrast, the page Iraq Trend (Post Impact: 2%) highlighted a positive aspect of the season’s drama, praising the “genius” and professional performance of a child actress in the series “Al-Channa,” which airs on Al-Manasa platform.

8. Security Forces Commemorate Fallen Soldier Walaa al-Musawi

Iraqi security forces’ pages took time to honor a fallen soldier, Walaa Rahim Khasaf al-Musawi, from Dhi Qar province. Both the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (Icts) (Post Impact: 6%) and Iraqi Special Operations Forces (Post Impact: 1%) shared a tribute to the soldier, who was killed in action on March 1, 2014. The posts praised him as a “fierce fighter” who joined the Counter-Terrorism Service and fought bravely to protect Iraq. The tribute emphasized that heroes like him are never forgotten and their stories serve as an inspiration.

9. Protests and Arrests Related to Syrian FM’s Visit

In addition to online criticism, the Syrian Foreign Minister’s visit prompted on-the-ground action. The page Aliraq (Post Impact: 3%) shared a video of what it described as “angry demonstrations in Basra rejecting the visit of al-Jolani’s foreign minister to Baghdad.” In a related development, Alkhuwa Alnazifa (Post Impact: 8%) reported that the Ministry of Interior had arrested a person accused of inciting protests and riots in front of the Syrian embassy in Baghdad, indicating an official response to the demonstrations.

10. Charitable and Religious Activities Mark Ramadan

Various pages highlighted charitable and religious activities taking place during the month of Ramadan. Hakim Al-Zamili (Post Impact: 5%) called on people to donate to the “Bunyan Marsous” project to support needy families. The R.C.D Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue (Post Impact: 2%) shared that it hosted an iftar dinner for a group of orphans in Najaf. On a larger scale, the page for businessman Ammar Al-Hilfi (Post Impact: 3%) posted a video from an iftar banquet for 2,000 orphans sponsored by the Al-Ghaith Foundation, where he reportedly donated money to each child for Eid clothes. These posts reflect a broader theme of charity and community support during the holy month.