Iraqi forces launched an extensive security operation on Saturday morning against remnants of the terrorist organization ISIS, north of the capital Baghdad. The Security Media Cell stated in a statement that the operation, which was initiated based on "accurate intelligence information," aims to track down ISIS elements in areas north of Baghdad.
The operation, which began at 6 AM local time, involves the Baghdad Operations Command, supported by the air forces and the international coalition against ISIS, in addition to special police forces, federal police, and Popular Mobilization Forces. The Iraqi forces did not disclose the motives behind launching the operation, but it comes amid an increase in attacks targeting electricity towers throughout Iraq, from north to south.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi announced on Friday the formation of a crisis cell to address the consecutive attacks targeting electricity towers, which have led to an unprecedented crisis of power outages in large areas of the country. Al-Kadhimi ordered the mobilization of security forces to protect power transmission towers, emphasizing the need to implement new plans to safeguard them from attacks, and warned that "any unacceptable failings will be dealt with firmly."
On Friday, the electricity ministry reported that a terrorist act using explosive devices targeted a power transmission tower in the Karkh area of Baghdad, indicating that attacks on power towers in Iraq have reached the heart of the capital. Previously, electricity towers in the provinces of Karbala and Nineveh had also been subjected to similar attacks.
The Northern Electricity Transmission Company, which covers northern Iraq, reported that at least 27 towers were attacked within a week. The Iraqi government claims that terrorist organizations, primarily ISIS, are behind the systematic targeting of electricity networks. These attacks have compounded the already severe electricity crisis in Iraq during the summer, where high temperatures lead to a significant surge in electricity demand, especially for air conditioning.
It is worth noting that Iraq announced victory over ISIS in late 2017; however, the terrorist organization has remained in the form of cells that are based in remote areas, using them as safe havens to launch attacks from time to time.
