Iraq Declares Six-Day Nationwide Public Holiday

Iraq Declares Six-Day Nationwide Public Holiday

According to the popular Iraqi student-focused channel نيمار ابن الانبار || iraqedu, a six-day nationwide holiday will begin on Wednesday and last until the following Monday. The channel, which primarily tracks educational updates, enthusiastically celebrated the announcement, stating: "Congratulations on the holiday starting tomorrow, Wednesday, until next Monday."

The national shutdown is sweeping, affecting both the education and public sectors. The general Iraqi news channel واحد عراق confirmed the broad scope of the directive, emphasizing that "The holiday includes everyone" and encompasses all "Schools and universities in Baghdad and all provinces, and even employees." Identical phrasing regarding the full scope of the closure was also broadcast by the iraqedu channel.

While local channels shared the news with celebratory emojis, this comprehensive national shutdown unfolds against a backdrop of unprecedented regional instability. Earlier in March 2026, Iraq witnessed massive protests and riots targeting American missions in response to "Operation Epic Wrath"—a large-scale US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that included the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The ensuing regional war has severely destabilized the Middle East, already prompting the US State Department to order urgent diplomatic evacuations across multiple countries, including Iraq.