Bomb attacks target 2 power transmission towers in Iraq

BAGHDAD

Bomb attacks targeted two power transmission towers supplying electricity from Iran to Iraq on Monday by suspected ISIS/Daesh militants in Iraq’s eastern Diyala province, according to a local police officer.

"Unidentified gunmen believed to belong to ISIS/Daesh terror group blew up two electrical supply towers extending from Iran to Diyala with explosive devices," First Lieutenant Sha’lan al-Kamili told Anadolu Agency.

He said the attacks caused the destruction of the two towers and interruption of electricity supply in large areas in the province.

Over the past few weeks, electricity transmission lines have been the target of attacks in the northern provinces of Salahuddin, Diyala, and Kirkuk.

Iraq produces 19,000-21,000 megawatts of electricity.

For years, Baghdad has imported 1,200 megawatts of electricity from neighboring Iran to feed local electric power plants.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara