BABIL, Iraq — Social networking sites in Iraq are turning into a real pressure tool on government decision-making centers. This became obvious April 28 when activists and bloggers started a media campaign on Facebook against the Iraqi government for failing to save the soldiers stationed at the Nazim al-Tharthar dam located 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Baghdad. The Iraqi soldiers were attacked by the Islamic State (IS). Media reports said that about 150 were killed in the attack and that soldiers had been besieged for 16 days.
The Iraqi government, represented by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, denied the news circulating on social media that the dam fell into the hands of IS, and that the soldiers were trapped there.