ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Rudaw Media Network’s digital coverage of the ongoing Middle East war has surpassed 3.72 billion views across its social media platforms within just the first month, setting a new benchmark among media outlets in Kurdistan, Iraq and the wider region.
From the onset of the Iran-Israel-US conflict in the early morning hours of February 28, Rudaw Digital has delivered rapid, minute-by-minute, multilingual to tens of millions of viewers worldwide.
Rudaw Digital’s reporting spans a wide range of journalistic formats - from breaking news stories to in-depth articles, to video reports and interviews with key stakeholders and experts - alongside real-time updates in Sorani and Kurmaji Kurdish, as well as Arabic, English and Turkish to serve a truly global audience.
Importantly, for the first time, Rudaw has integrated artificial intelligence (AI) along with professional fact-checking teams to accelerate the delivery of verified information during this critical period. This technological edge has positioned the network as a key reference point for international media outlets, driving significant traffic to its accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms among audiences seeking authenticated combat footage and reliable data.
While headquartered in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, Rudaw’s reach has extended well beyond its borders. Indeed, metrics show that a substantial share of its record-breaking viewership comes from non-followers, with many users directed to the network via platform algorithms that have prioritized Rudaw’s high-quality output.
Moreover, the network’s multilingual website also experienced a significant surge in traffic, recording approximately 60 million visits in March 2026 alone.
Brwa Kyani, Director of Rudaw Digital, attributed the network’s unprecedented performance to the adaptability and innovative strategies it has developed over its 12 years of operation in a highly volatile region.
“The latest conflict broke out rapidly and unexpectedly, and quickly expanded across the region,” Kyani noted, adding that Rudaw was nevertheless able to adapt to the fast-paced developments because “over the years, our staff has become accustomed to covering challenging events for an audience that expects nothing less than highly accurate and timely output from our outlet.”
He further noted that the record-high traffic is the result of “the meticulous, around-the-clock efforts of our teams across all platforms.”
Rudaw Digital maintains a strong presence across all major social media platforms and operates dedicated news channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, and Messenger.
The network emphasizes its commitment to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) guidelines, carefully coordinating coverage of strikes within the Kurdistan Region to ensure security protocols are followed and to prevent misreporting of sensitive events that could harm the Kurdish public or the wider region.
While the high level of engagement is a source of pride, Rudaw underscores its adherence to professional restraint and responsibility, guided by a long-standing commitment to ethical journalism that prioritizes human interest above all.