Iraq foils ISIS attacks to blow up power towers

Iraqi security forces thwarted two new attempts to blow up electricity towers in Ninawa and Diyala provinces, security officials announced Sunday.

“Two attempts to blow up electricity towers in Ninawa and Diyala operations sectors were foiled, as a number of improvised explosive devices were dismantled under electricity towers,” the security media cell said in a statement obtained by Al-Ain News.

“ISIS elements planted the improvised explosive devices but the vigilance and attention of our security forces thwarted these desperate attempts,” the statement said.

“The security forces, with their various formations, are monitoring electric power transmission lines around the clock and foiling all attempts to target towers and stations to ensure the stability of electric power supply to all areas across the country,” the statement said.

On Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi blamed “imaginary forces” for the attacks on electricity transmission towers.

Al-Kazimi said, during a visit to the Ministry of Electricity and his meeting with ministry officials, that “the terrorists and their supporters continue their attempt to obstruct life in Iraq, after being unable to confront our heroic armed forces, they are constantly targeting power plants and pylons.”

Al-Kazimi attributed the decline in the electricity sector and the lack of improvement in generation and production to “corruption”, even though the level of spending on energy has reached $80 billion since 2003.

Over the past few days, Iraq has witnessed a wave of popular anger following the continuous power outages, which coincided with high temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in some provinces, prompting Minister Majid Jantoush to resign.

During the past two weeks, Iraq recorded an unprecedented wave of attacks on electricity transmission towers between cities, especially in remote and uninhabited areas. This prompted the Iraqi Ministry of Interior to contract with a Chinese company to buy drones to protect electricity lines.