Based on an analysis of 424 posts by Miqrab AI, the dominant narratives trending on Facebook in Iraq on July 5, 2025, revolved around three key areas: environmental developments, religious observance, and political tensions. The most engaging topic was the significant release of water from Turkey towards Iraq, celebrated as a positive development for the country’s water resources. Concurrently, pages were saturated with content related to the commemoration of Ashura, with extensive coverage of mourning rituals, religious sermons, and public services for pilgrims, particularly in Karbala. On the political front, sharp tensions emerged between Shia factions following a provocative statement from a Kata’ib Hezbollah spokesman rejecting calls for disarmament, which was widely interpreted as an attack on Muqtada al-Sadr and his supporters.<\/p>\n
The most engaging story on Facebook involved videos showing a significant increase in water flowing from Turkey into Iraq. The page Bab Altoob<\/a> (Post Impact: 100%<\/strong>) shared a video describing the water flow as “the strongest since 2003.<\/em>” The same page followed up with another video showing the opening of “the second largest dam in Turkey towards Iraq and the Tigris<\/em>” (Bab Altoob<\/a>, Post Impact: 52%<\/strong>). In connection with this, pages like Bab Altoob<\/a> (Post Impact: 47%<\/strong>) and Mosul – MOSUL<\/a> (Post Impact: 8%<\/strong>) shared footage described as “wonderful shots of the water releases from the Mosul Dam.<\/em>”<\/p>\n Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s official page was highly active, emphasizing his government’s achievements. In a top-performing post, he stated, “Despite all attempts at confusion and misinformation targeting the government’s work, we have proceeded on the path of reform, construction, reconstruction, and development<\/em>” (Al-Mohandes Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani<\/a>, Post Impact: 61%<\/strong>). On the occasion of Ashura, his page and others reported on his message linking the memory of Imam Hussein to his government’s agenda, particularly “the issue of reform and confronting corruption<\/em>” (Iraqeen W Bas<\/a>, Post Impact: 7%<\/strong>). He was also shown visiting the Joint Operations Command to follow up on the security plan for the Ashura pilgrimage (Al-Mohandes Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani<\/a>, Post Impact: 8%<\/strong>).<\/p>\n The commemoration of Ashura, the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, was a dominant theme across numerous pages. Al-Khawa Al-Nadifa<\/a> (Post Impact: 15%<\/strong>) shared photos of millions of believers commemorating the tenth night of Muharram in Karbala. In a unique post, Telescoub Iraq<\/a> (Post Impact: 29%<\/strong>) used astronomical technology to create a simulation of the night sky as it would have appeared over Karbala on the night of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom. Officials like the military spokesman Yahya Rasool<\/a> (Post Impact: 11%<\/strong>) and politician Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaidi<\/a> (Post Impact: 11%<\/strong>) also posted messages of condolence, drawing parallels between the historical event and contemporary values of sacrifice and justice.<\/p>\n A statement from Abu Ali Al-Askari, the security spokesman for Kata’ib Hezbollah, ignited significant controversy and political tension. As reported by Hussam Alhaj hussam alhaj<\/a> (Post Impact: 21%<\/strong>), Al-Askari declared that “the resistance’s weapon is a deposit from Imam Mahdi (AS) and the decision to abandon it is in his hands only.<\/em>” He used inflammatory language, stating that “the effeminate and quasi-men will not decide the fate of the resistance’s weapon.<\/em>” This was widely seen as a direct attack on those calling for the state to have a monopoly on arms. Steven Nabil<\/a> (Post Impact: 18%<\/strong>) pointed out that the call for disarming factions has been made by both Grand Ayatollah Sistani and Muqtada al-Sadr, calling Al-Askari’s statement “dangerous and containing obscene words.<\/em>” Khan Jghan<\/a> (Post Impact: 9%<\/strong>) also covered the statement, explicitly noting that it was a rejection of Muqtada al-Sadr’s calls.<\/p>\n Human interest stories showing acts of kindness and compassion garnered high engagement. A video shared by Ammar Al-Hilfi<\/a> (Post Impact: 37%<\/strong>) showed the director of Fasondi Holding Companies generously rewarding a vegetable seller, an act praised by viewers. In another popular video, the page Support for Iraqi Security Forces<\/a> (Post Impact: 35%<\/strong>) shared what it called a “beautiful moment between an Iraqi officer and one of our heroes with disabilities,<\/em>” highlighting a positive interaction between security forces and civilians.<\/p>\n Tensions between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) surfaced following a drone attack in Erbil. The page Iraqeen W Bas<\/a> (Post Impact: 10%<\/strong>) reported on a statement from the spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, which called the KRG’s accusation against an “official Iraqi security institution<\/em>” as “rejected, condemned, and not permitted.<\/em>” The statement, also covered by Taraef Al-Alam bi-Uyun Iraqiya<\/a> (Post Impact: 2%<\/strong>), affirmed that the government would not hesitate to take legal action against any party found to be involved.<\/p>\n The official page for Muqtada al-Sadr’s office highlighted the Sadrist movement’s activities during Ashura. A series of posts showed the “Al-Sadr Guesthouses” providing services to mourners in key locations across the country. These included Nasiriyah’s Al-Haboubi Square<\/a> (Post Impact: 10%<\/strong>), Baghdad’s Tahrir Square<\/a> (Post Impact: 7%<\/strong>), and Mosul<\/a> (Post Impact: 5%<\/strong>). The posts emphasized that these services were provided under the direction of al-Sadr, showcasing the movement’s organizational presence and public outreach during the major religious event.<\/p>\n Allegations of political corruption related to a major housing project in Baghdad circulated on Facebook. The page Set Ashwaq Umm Al-Qanouniya<\/a> (Post Impact: 11%<\/strong>) asked its followers about rumors of a “political party trying to take a complex by force and jailing the owner.<\/em>” Ahmed Al-Dhawaq<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>) provided more details in an appeal to the Prime Minister, claiming the Shanashil Baghdad residential complex was the target of a takeover attempt by a “political mafia<\/em>” led by Khamis al-Khanjar and Iyad al-Jubouri, and that the project’s owner had been detained to force him to relinquish it.<\/p>\n The page Akher Al-Ahdath Al-Iraqiya<\/a> (Post Impact: 15%<\/strong>) shared multiple stories of tragic deaths that drew significant user engagement. One post detailed the death of a young shepherd named Mamdouh Mahmoud Al-Ayyashi, who reportedly died of thirst in the desert between Samawa and Najaf after his vehicle broke down. Another post from the same page (Akher Al-Ahdath Al-Iraqiya<\/a>, Post Impact: 5%<\/strong>) recounted the story of Ubaid Al-Rabie from Mosul, who died in a car accident while trying to rush his father, who was suffering a stroke, to the hospital. These posts reflect a trend of sharing and mourning personal tragedies on the platform.<\/p>\n2. PM Al-Sudani Touts Government Reforms on Ashura<\/h2>\n
3. Iraqis Commemorate Ashura with Mourning Rituals<\/h2>\n
4. Tensions Flare Over Resistance Factions’ Weapons<\/h2>\n
5. Videos of Kindness and Generosity Go Viral<\/h2>\n
6. KRG-Baghdad Tensions Rise Over Drone Attack Accusations<\/h2>\n
7. Sadrist Movement Active During Ashura Commemorations<\/h2>\n
8. Allegations of Political Seizure of Shanashil Complex<\/h2>\n
9. Tragic Personal Stories Shared Widely<\/h2>\n
10. Calls to Address Khor Abdullah Dispute with Kuwait<\/h2>\n