Based on an analysis of 443 X \/ Twitter posts by Miqrab AI on May 19, 2025, the key narratives on X \/ Twitter in Iraq revolve around institutional conflicts and foreign policy. A major theme was the Popular Mobilization Forces’ official condemnation of Meta (Facebook) for censoring content related to former deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, which was framed as an attack on Iraqi sovereignty. Domestically, there was significant discussion about a power struggle between Basra’s provincial government and the federal government over the removal of informal settlements. Another viral story involved public outrage over a Ministry of Trade official’s abusive behavior towards employees, prompting a government investigation. Regional and international affairs also featured prominently, including fallout from the recent Arab League summit, the anniversary of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s death, and developments in the conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) issued an official statement condemning Meta, the parent company of Facebook, for its repeated deletion and restriction of content related to its former deputy commander, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The PMF’s Media Directorate – Popular Mobilization Forces<\/a> (Post Impact: 9%<\/strong>) described the action as a “clear violation of the principles of freedom of expression”<\/em> and an infringement on Iraqi national sovereignty. The statement argues that al-Muhandis was an official military commander in a state-sanctioned institution and that treating his name and image as prohibited content is an insult to the state. The PMF demanded an immediate lifting of the ban and a review of Meta’s policies. The story was widely circulated by other accounts, including Rusly Al-Maliki \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf6 \u0631\u0633\u0644\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0627\u0644\u0643\u064a<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%<\/strong>) and Shaho Al-Qaradaghi<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%<\/strong>), who both reported on the PMF’s statement and its core message of condemnation.<\/p>\n A political confrontation has emerged between the central government and the Basra provincial government over the removal of illegal settlements. According to Haydar<\/a> (Post Impact: 5%<\/strong>), Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani publicly rejected a directive from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani to halt the demolitions for “electoral purposes.” Al-Eidani asserted Basra’s authority under a federal system, stating, “directives from the central government are not binding on the provinces… I am elected by the provincial council, not an employee of the central government.”<\/em> He claimed his actions were based on court orders and vowed not to back down. This stance drew both support and criticism. Sheikh Mohammed Al-Basri<\/a> (Post Impact: 2%<\/strong>) defended Al-Eidani, framing the pushback against him as a politically motivated campaign. Conversely, Issam Hussein<\/a> (Post Impact: 2%<\/strong>) criticized the governor’s approach as a “forced displacement” of the poor, arguing the government should provide housing solutions rather than demolishing homes.<\/p>\n Videos of a female director general at the Iraqi Ministry of Trade sparked widespread outrage for her abusive and demeaning behavior towards employees. As reported by Haydar<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>), the official, identified as Lama Hashem al-Moussawi, was recorded threatening warehouse workers, saying, “Whoever doesn’t work, I’ll drag them out… and drag out whoever follows.”<\/em> Another video, shared by _. suhair Al_jumaili<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>), shows her forcing staff to chant slogans praising her, such as “We are all your soldiers, Alawiya.”<\/em> The public backlash prompted a swift response. Rusly Al-Maliki \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf6 \u0631\u0633\u0644\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0627\u0644\u0643\u064a<\/a> (Post Impact: 2%<\/strong>) and Shaho Al-Qaradaghi<\/a> (Post Impact: 2%<\/strong>) both reported that the Minister of Trade had ordered an investigation into the official’s conduct, with results expected within 48 hours.<\/p>\n A highly graphic video allegedly depicting a violent crime prompted a strong reaction online, with a user calling for the harshest possible punishment for the perpetrators. The post by Bahaa khaleel Bahaa khaleel<\/a> (Post Impact: 100%<\/strong>) shared the video and included a direct appeal to the Iraqi judiciary. The user wrote, “I demand the Iraqi judiciary to apply the death penalty against these scoundrels without mercy or pity.”<\/em> The post achieved the highest engagement rate among all analyzed posts, indicating a significant level of public horror and anger over the incident shown in the video, though no other accounts in the dataset provided further context or commentary on this specific event.<\/p>\n The war in Sudan is being reshaped by the introduction of sophisticated drones from foreign powers, particularly the UAE and China, which are aiding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In a detailed summary of a Financial Times report, ZaidBenjamin Zaid Benjamin<\/a> (Post Impact: 7%<\/strong>) explained that recent RSF drone strikes on Port Sudan have demonstrated new long-range capabilities, challenging the Sudanese Armed Forces’ initial air superiority. The article suggests these attacks, utilizing Chinese-made drones likely supplied by the UAE, were a response to army gains and prove that the RSF and its backers are “doubling down.” The international dimension of the conflict was also highlighted by Hussam Alhaj<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>), who shared a video of demonstrations in London protesting the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Sudanese army against civilians.<\/p>\n Several Iraqi X \/ Twitter accounts marked the first anniversary of the death of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, remembering him as a friend to Iraq. Wasan Al-Shaikhli<\/a> (Post Impact: 7%<\/strong>) commemorated the occasion by quoting a statement from Raisi addressed to the Iraqi people: “Oh Iraqi people, we are like you, our flesh is your flesh, and our blood is your blood, God willing, until the Day of Resurrection.”<\/em> This sentiment of loss was echoed by Abu Muzeal<\/a> (Post Impact: 4%<\/strong>), who wrote, “By Ali, his wound is still in the heart and will not heal.”<\/em> Both posts shared images of the late president, portraying him as a revered figure whose passing is still felt by his supporters in Iraq.<\/p>\n The final declaration of the Arab League summit in Baghdad has created diplomatic friction with Iran. Haydar<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>) reported that the Iranian Foreign Ministry officially protested a clause in the “Baghdad Declaration” which referred to three Gulf islands\u2014Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa\u2014as occupied Emirati territory, with Iran insisting the islands are an “inseparable part of Iranian territory.”<\/em> In a follow-up post, the same account questioned why the Iraqi government, which recently had its own maritime border dispute with Gulf states, would include this language. A different perspective was offered by Rusly Al-Maliki \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf6 \u0631\u0633\u0644\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0627\u0644\u0643\u064a<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>), who criticized Iran and its allied Iraqi factions for “spoiling” the summit, suggesting their actions, including a high-profile meeting between Qasem Al-Araji and Esmail Qaani, were deliberately provocative and undermined Iraq’s diplomatic efforts.<\/p>\n News of a supposed phone call between former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the war in Ukraine circulated among Iraqi social media users. Rafid Jaboori Rafid Jabbouri<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%<\/strong>) posted an urgent alert claiming that after a two-hour call, Putin was close to agreeing to a ceasefire. This was followed by a more detailed post from ZaidBenjamin Zaid Benjamin<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%<\/strong>), who shared what appeared to be a statement from Trump’s Truth Social account. In the statement, Trump claimed the call went “very well” and that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately begin negotiations for a ceasefire” and an end to the war. The posts indicate that regional audiences are closely watching the potential for a shift in US foreign policy under a different administration.<\/p>\n The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has advanced its energy sector by finalizing major agreements with American companies during an official visit to the United States. The official account of the Kurdistan Regional Government<\/a> (Post Impact: 2%<\/strong>) announced that Prime Minister Masrour Barzani oversaw the signing of two agreements between the KRG’s Ministry of Natural Resources and energy firms HKN Energy and WesternZagros. The deals, signed at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars and are aimed at developing the region’s oil and energy sector. Dr.Nayif Kurdistani \u2600\ufe0f<\/a> (Post Impact: 1%<\/strong>) also reported on the signing, emphasizing its strategic importance for strengthening the Kurdistan Region’s economic infrastructure.<\/p>\n A sarcastic narrative emerged following the Arab League summit, with users mocking the idea that Iraq owns an oil refinery in Somalia. Rusly Al-Maliki \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf6 \u0631\u0633\u0644\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0627\u0644\u0643\u064a<\/a> (Post Impact: 7%<\/strong>) joked that the only useful outcome of the summit was that “we found out we have an Iraqi oil refinery in Somalia that we didn’t know about!!”<\/em> This tone of ridicule was shared by Emad Bajalan<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%<\/strong>), who posted a video with a caption suggesting that “Zainab’s brothers” had arrived in Somalia to dismantle the refinery. The posts reflect a cynical view of the summit’s achievements and use dark humor to comment on what they perceive as absurdities in Iraqi and regional politics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Based on an analysis of 443 X \/ Twitter posts by Miqrab AI on May 19, 2025, the key narratives on X \/ Twitter in Iraq revolve around institutional conflicts and foreign policy. A major theme was the Popular Mobilization Forces’ official condemnation of Meta (Facebook) for censoring content related to former deputy commander Abu […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[72,73,78],"tags":[82,52,81,83],"class_list":["post-8884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-twitter-x","category-iraq","category-daily","tag-daily-reports","tag-iraq-daily-social-media-trends","tag-iraq-public-opinion","tag-trending-x-twitter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8884"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8886,"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8884\/revisions\/8886"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miqrab.ai\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Basra Governor Defies Baghdad Over Demolitions<\/h2>\n
3. Outrage Over Abusive Ministry of Trade Official<\/h2>\n
4. Call for Executions After Violent Crime Video Surfaces<\/h2>\n
5. Foreign Drones Altering the Conflict in Sudan<\/h2>\n
6. Commemorating the Death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi<\/h2>\n
7. Fallout from Arab Summit Over Disputed Islands<\/h2>\n
8. Reports of Trump-Putin Call to End Ukraine War<\/h2>\n
9. KRG Signs Major Energy Deals in Washington D.C.<\/h2>\n
10. Sarcasm Over Rumored Iraqi Oil Refinery in Somalia<\/h2>\n