Based on an analysis of 406 Facebook posts trending in Iraq on December 5, 2024, Miqrab AI identified several dominant narratives circulating on the platform. The most significant story, generating the highest engagement, was Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s call for Iraq’s non-interference in the escalating Syrian conflict, a sentiment echoed by other political figures like Hanan al-Fatlawi. Concurrently, widespread discussions about severe electricity shortages in Baghdad and central provinces attributed the issue to a halt in Iranian gas supplies. Other key topics included official government activities, such as Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s initiatives on education and volunteerism, religious commemorations for the martyrdom of Fatima al-Zahra, and local interest stories about astronomical events visible across the country.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Muqtada al-Sadr Demands Non-Interference in Syria

The most engaging topic was a statement from Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr regarding the ongoing conflict in Syria. As reported by his The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 37%), al-Sadr posted on X with the hashtag “#Peace_for_Syria,” calling for Iraq, including its government, people, and security forces, to refrain from interfering in Syrian affairs. Pages like Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 28%) and Bel Iraqi (Post Impact: 10%) amplified this message, specifying that al-Sadr urged the Iraqi government to punish “brazen militias” that intervene in Syria. This call was praised by figures like Khamis al-Khanjar (Post Impact: 3%) as a sign of conscious political discourse prioritizing Iraq’s national interest.

2. Electricity Shortages Explained by Iranian Gas Cut

A major concern across multiple pages was the significant decline in electricity supply in Baghdad and other provinces. Ahmed Al-Thawaq (Post Impact: 18%) and Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 4%) explained that the problem is technical, not political. They detailed that Iran had halted gas supplies through the central region for maintenance, causing a loss of 6,000 megawatts and impacting power stations like Basmayah, Mansouriyah, and Sadr. Pages such as Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 7%) and Basratna Mudhawia (Post Impact: 3%) noted that southern provinces are less affected as they rely more on locally produced gas. The government is reportedly trying to compensate with heavy fuel and is pursuing gas imports from Turkmenistan.

3. Hanan al-Fatlawi Argues Against Involvement in Foreign Wars

Reflecting a similar sentiment to Muqtada al-Sadr, politician Hanan al-Fatlawi’s strong stance against Iraqi involvement in the Syrian conflict gained significant traction. A video shared by Journalist Qahtan Adnan (Post Impact: 18%) highlighted her new position. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 8%) quoted her as saying, “We have had enough of widows and orphans and losing our sons and we do not want to enter any war on behalf of anyone.” The post further elaborated on her view that neither the liberated provinces are ready to be burned by the fire of terrorism again, nor are the provinces that sacrificed their sons willing to offer new ones.

4. PM Al-Sudani Chairs Meeting on “Return to Learning” Initiative

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s efforts to combat school dropouts were highlighted. His official page, Engineer Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 13%), reported on a meeting he chaired with the committee for the “Return to Learning” initiative and UNICEF representatives. The posts noted the initiative’s success in returning 129,643 dropouts to school, whether in formal education or programs like literacy and accelerated learning schools. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 3%) also covered the event, stating that the Prime Minister directed authorities to continue addressing the root causes of school dropout, such as poverty and the effects of terrorism.

5. Commemoration of Fatima al-Zahra’s Martyrdom

Several pages marked the martyrdom anniversary of Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 17%) shared a poignant post with a verse attributed to Imam Ali mourning her, stating, “There is no good in life after you, and I only cry for fear that my life will be long.” Similarly, Hakim Al-Zamili (Post Impact: 3%) extended condolences to Imam al-Mahdi and all believers on the occasion, quoting poetry expressing deep sorrow. These posts reflect the religious and cultural significance of the event for many Iraqis.

6. Syrian Diplomatic and Military Developments Discussed

Alongside calls for non-intervention, Iraqi pages closely followed diplomatic and military updates from Syria. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 9%) reported the arrival of the Syrian Foreign Minister in Baghdad for a trilateral meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, and Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. Meanwhile, Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 9%) provided a political analysis with a map, stating that Syria is no longer a single state but is divided among various international powers, each pursuing its own agenda. He argued that neutrality is also a stance that indirectly supports the powerful.

7. Land Distribution Approved for Defense Ministry Personnel

An announcement regarding land distribution for military personnel was shared by Maher Mouhi::Voice of the Homeland Protectors (Post Impact: 9%). The page delivered “good news” to officers and members of the Ministry of Defense in Baghdad province, stating that official approvals have been obtained for the sorting and distribution of land plots. The post thanked Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, the Minister of Defense, and other military leaders for their efforts. A follow-up post on the same page (Post Impact: 2%) noted that the Minister of Defense was meeting with the Minister of Justice to finalize the procedures.

8. Astronomical Events Visible Over Iraq

Stargazers in Iraq were treated to celestial events, which were widely covered by the page Telescope Iraq. One post (Post Impact: 8%) featured a photograph from Baghdad of a “legendary conjunction” between the crescent moon and the planet Venus. Another popular post from the same page (Post Impact: 6%) informed Iraqis that the International Space Station (ISS) would be visible crossing the country’s sky. It detailed the exact time and trajectory, noting the ISS would appear as a fast-moving bright star visible from all over Iraq for about five minutes.

9. Syrian Currency Collapse Highlighted

The dire economic situation in Syria was another topic of discussion, with pages noting the catastrophic collapse of the Syrian lira. Both Min al-Iraq (Post Impact: 2%) and Iraqi News Center (Post Impact: 2%) reported that 100 US dollars had become equivalent to 2 million Syrian liras. These short but impactful posts underscored the severity of the economic crisis in the neighboring country, providing context to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian situation there.

10. PM Al-Sudani Recognizes Volunteers on International Day

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s participation in a ceremony for International Volunteer Day was another key government story. His official page, Engineer Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 7%), detailed his speech in which he praised the contributions of volunteers, especially during the war against ISIS and the COVID-19 pandemic. Al-Sudani emphasized that volunteering is needed to tackle challenges like environmental issues and drug proliferation. He also announced government support measures, including financial grants for volunteers injured on duty and prioritizing them for training courses and study leaves. This was also covered by the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 2%).