Islamic State suspected of sabotaging Iraqi electrical towers
Power transmission towers have recently been targeted in Iraq, which already is suffering from major electricity shortages.
The Joint Operations Command in Iraq called on citizens July 1 to “be brave” and report individuals who are damaging electric power transmission towers.The command also offered a financial reward for those who report the incidents.
Hours before this announcement by the Joint Operations Command, the Government Security Media Cell in Iraq announced that the security forces had seized a cache belonging to the Islamic State (IS) containing dozens of explosive devices intended to target the electrical transmission towers in the north of the country.
Sources told Al-Monitor that the attacks on power transmission towers in Iraq may not be limited to IS; one source said they are being intensely attacked by “several parties” and a government statement blamed "terrorist and subversive groups."
This is the biggest sustained attack on power transmission lines that has taken place in the country, which has long been suffering from a major electricity crisis.
