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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi security forces have thwarted more than 18 attacks on electricity lines in two weeks, a military spokesperson told state media on Sunday.
“Many of the people that are targeting electricity towers have been arrested,” spokesperson for the Joint Operations Command Major-General Tahsin al-Khafaji told state media. “The security forces have thwarted more than 18 attempts to target electricity towers in the past two weeks.”
Iraq suffers from chronic electricity shortages, especially felt when summer temperatures reach over 50 degrees Celsius. This is caused by multiple factors, including poor government delivery of services, rampant corruption, terror attacks on the power grid, and Iran’s recent cuts of electricity and gas exports because of unpaid bills.
Attacks earlier this summer on electricity pylons contributed to a blackout that left millions in central and southern Iraq without power during a heat wave.
The Islamic State group (ISIS) has claimed dozens of attacks on Iraq’s electricity grid and threatened other vital infrastructure and Iraqi security forces said they thwarted several other attempts.
Khafaji added that ISIS is still an active threat in the region.
Earlier last month, Khafaji said that the “ISIS terrorist organization seeks to create panic through targeting these power lines.”
Last week, Iraq’s electricity ministry said that attacks on power lines damaged 13 electricity towers in three provinces in just 2 days.
“ISIS probably views infrastructure as a soft target; the attacks require minimal resources and personnel, but the resulting electricity disruptions garner attention and undermine the Iraqi government,” the United States Pentagon said in a report on operations against ISIS.
During a visit to the electricity ministry in July, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said there is no quick solution to electricity shortages.
“Many of the people that are targeting electricity towers have been arrested,” spokesperson for the Joint Operations Command Major-General Tahsin al-Khafaji told state media. “The security forces have thwarted more than 18 attempts to target electricity towers in the past two weeks.”
Iraq suffers from chronic electricity shortages, especially felt when summer temperatures reach over 50 degrees Celsius. This is caused by multiple factors, including poor government delivery of services, rampant corruption, terror attacks on the power grid, and Iran’s recent cuts of electricity and gas exports because of unpaid bills.
Attacks earlier this summer on electricity pylons contributed to a blackout that left millions in central and southern Iraq without power during a heat wave.
The Islamic State group (ISIS) has claimed dozens of attacks on Iraq’s electricity grid and threatened other vital infrastructure and Iraqi security forces said they thwarted several other attempts.
Khafaji added that ISIS is still an active threat in the region.
Earlier last month, Khafaji said that the “ISIS terrorist organization seeks to create panic through targeting these power lines.”
Last week, Iraq’s electricity ministry said that attacks on power lines damaged 13 electricity towers in three provinces in just 2 days.
“ISIS probably views infrastructure as a soft target; the attacks require minimal resources and personnel, but the resulting electricity disruptions garner attention and undermine the Iraqi government,” the United States Pentagon said in a report on operations against ISIS.
During a visit to the electricity ministry in July, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said there is no quick solution to electricity shortages.
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