Based on an analysis of 133 X \/ Twitter posts by Miqrab AI on March 25, 2026, the dominant narrative in Iraq revolves around a deadly airstrike on the Al-Habbaniyah military base, which is widely attributed to the United States. This event has triggered widespread public anger, with numerous accounts condemning the attack as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and criticizing the government for its perceived weak response and inadequate air defenses. A significant portion of the conversation involves blaming neighboring countries, particularly Jordan and Saudi Arabia, for allegedly facilitating the strike from their territories. These discussions are framed within the context of a broader, escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran, with many users expressing frustration that pro-Iran factions have dragged Iraq into a war not of its own making, while others praise acts of individual defiance against the foreign military presence.<\/p>\n
The most significant event driving conversation was an airstrike on the Al-Habbaniyah military base. The Iraqi Ministry of Defense<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong> issued a statement confirming that an airstrike at 9:00 AM hit a military clinic, killing seven soldiers and injuring thirteen. The Ministry condemned the attack as a “heinous crime”<\/em> and a “flagrant and dangerous violation of all international laws and conventions.”<\/em> Similarly, the Prime Minister’s Media Office<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> announced it had summoned the U.S. charg\u00e9 d’affaires to deliver a formal protest note and would file a complaint with the UN Security Council. Accounts such as Steven Nabil<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> and Hussam Alhaj<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> shared videos purportedly from inside the base during and before the attack. The leader of the Sadrist Movement, Ammar Al-Hakim<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong>, also condemned the act, stating any targeting of Iraq’s military or sovereignty is “rejected, condemned and unjustified, whatever the pretexts and reasons.”<\/em><\/p>\n Following the Al-Habbaniyah strike, many users directed their anger toward the Iraqi government, criticizing its response as weak and inadequate. Ali Farhan<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong> questioned the government’s ability to engage in conflict, pointing out its lack of air defense, reliance on foreign-controlled oil revenue, and zero industrial capacity, concluding it should issue an “apology statement”<\/em> instead of a “war statement.”<\/em> Dr. Hussein Al-Safi<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong> asked why Iraq’s 36 F-16 jets were not used to protect its airspace, suggesting that government officials “love America more than Iraq because their money is in American banks.”<\/em> Hayder<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> sarcastically noted that instead of expelling the U.S. diplomat, the Prime Minister would only issue a “strongly worded memo.” This sentiment of government failure and inaction was a common theme across many critical posts.<\/p>\n A prominent narrative accused Iraq’s neighbors, particularly Jordan and Saudi Arabia, of facilitating the deadly airstrike. Ahmed Al-Thawaq<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong> directly questioned whether the aircraft that struck the Iraqi soldiers came from Jordan or Saudi Arabia. This was echoed by Dr. Qusay Shafiq<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong>, who stated that “Jordan is officially participating in striking Iraq”<\/em> and later elaborated that the American A-10 aircraft took off from a base in Jordan. He called on the Iraqi government to expel the Jordanian ambassador and cut off the free oil supply to the country. Abu Azrael<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> also directly blamed Jordan, stating, “The martyrs of the Iraqi army today are on your heads, you scoundrels.”<\/em><\/p>\n The airstrike was widely viewed as an extension of the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, with many users lamenting that Iraq is caught in the middle. Ali Farhan<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> claimed that “Iran’s agents in Iraq have succeeded in dragging Iraq into the Iranian-Zionist-American war.”<\/em> This perspective was shared by Rusly Al-Maliki<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong>, who stated, “I am against the war between Iraq and America in defense of Iran… This conflict, if Iraq is dragged into it, will set the country back another twenty years.”<\/em> Conversely, Ahmad Abdul Sada<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> portrayed the situation differently, arguing that “Iran is waging, on behalf of everyone, a war to liberate the region from American colonialism.”<\/em> Dr. Ihsan Al-Shammari<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> summarized the situation by noting that “Iraq is entering the second phase of the war… at a time when Washington and Tehran are reaching the fourth (decisive) stage.”<\/em><\/p>\n Amidst criticism of the official response, a video of an Iraqi soldier, nicknamed “Abu Hassan,” firing his machine gun at an American warplane went viral as a symbol of individual courage and resistance. Muna Sami<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong> shared the video, expressing pride and stating, “I am proud to share citizenship with you, Abu Hassan.”<\/em> Political figure Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong> sarcastically commented that Iraq was deploying the “‘Abu Hassan’ system to resist American planes and missiles, instead of the Patriot system.” Yasser Eljuboori<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> praised the soldier’s bravery, claiming, “Abu Hassan, we have more than 40 officers with the rank of general, and you are braver than them.”<\/em> The soldier’s actions were contrasted with the perceived inaction of the state’s military and political leadership.<\/p>\n A counter-narrative placed the blame for the current escalation squarely on pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Rusly Al-Maliki<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> provided a timeline of events, arguing that the factions initiated attacks on U.S. targets on March 1, leading to a series of escalations that culminated in the Habbaniyah strike. He concluded, “Whatever happens, these factions are responsible for dragging the country into war.”<\/em> Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong> directly addressed the militias, calling them the most “stupid” people he had ever seen and urging them to “return to your homes” instead of integrating with the army or hiding in schools. Najeh Abbas Al-Mizan<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> was more direct, calling to “expel the Hashd al-Shaabi militia from Iraq.”<\/em><\/p>\n The regional diplomatic fallout from the ongoing conflict was a key topic, highlighted by a joint statement from several Arab nations. Rusly Al-Maliki<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> reported on a statement from Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan condemning “attacks by armed factions loyal to Iran from Iraq on countries in the region.”<\/em> In response, Hayder<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> reported that the “Saraya Awliya al-Dam” faction affirmed it would continue its operations in the Gulf and Jordan, arguing that the attacks on Iraqi forces originated from bases in those countries. Omar Al-Janabi<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> interpreted the joint statement as a diplomatic “block” against Iraq, suggesting it was leading to the country’s isolation.<\/p>\n The broader conflict’s naval dimension, centered on the Strait of Hormuz, was also a point of discussion. Wasan Al-Shaikhli<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%)<\/strong> reported on confrontations between the Iranian and U.S. fleets near the strait, describing an “unprecedented state of military alert and intense naval movements from both sides.”<\/em> Hayder<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> shared a statement attributed to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who allegedly said that passage through Hormuz would only be permitted for “friendly countries” such as Iraq, China, Russia, India, and Pakistan. This highlights Iran’s attempt to control the critical waterway as a strategic lever in the conflict.<\/p>\n Accounts circulated reports of additional U.S. military actions beyond the Al-Habbaniyah strike, suggesting a widespread and intensifying campaign. Rusly Al-Maliki<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> shared a video of what he described as a “devastating B-52 bombing of weapons depots in Bandar Abbas, Iran.”<\/em> In another post, he reported unconfirmed news of the assassination of Adnan Al-Shahmani, leader of the Al-Risaliyun Movement, in a strike in Salah al-Din, a report later echoed by Israeli media. Sufian Al-Samarrai<\/a> (Post Impact: 0%)<\/strong> also posted a video claiming to show an Israeli airstrike near the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran, targeting IRGC command centers.<\/p>\n2. Widespread Criticism of Government’s Response<\/h2>\n
3. Accusations of Jordanian and Saudi Complicity<\/h2>\n
4. Iraq Dragged into Broader US-Iran Conflict<\/h2>\n
5. Viral “Abu Hassan” Video Symbolizes Defiance<\/h2>\n
6. Militias Blamed for Provoking Escalation<\/h2>\n
7. Joint Gulf-Jordanian Statement Condemns Iraqi Factions<\/h2>\n
8. Naval Tensions at Strait of Hormuz<\/h2>\n
9. Reports of Other U.S. Strikes on Iran and Allies<\/h2>\n
10. Qatar Reportedly Unfreezes Iranian Funds<\/h2>\n