An Iraqi security source said, on Wednesday, that an attack with explosive devices targeted the electric power transmission line from Iran to Iraq; caused a power outage for a third of the area of Diyala Governorate, east of the country, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

In a telephone conversation with Anadolu Agency, the first lieutenant in the Diyala police, Shaalan Al-Kameli, said that "militants, likely belonging to ISIS, blew up two towers of the electric power transmission line (Mersad - Diyala) near the Iranian border."

Al-Kameli explained that the explosion of the explosives caused the interruption of the power transmission line and caused severe damage to the two towers, pointing out that electricity was cut off for a third of the area of Diyala Governorate.

The line transmits 400 megawatts, and it is one of 4 lines through which Iraq imports electricity from Iran with a total capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

Power transmission towers have been subjected to frequent attacks for many years, especially in the governorates of Diyala and Salah al-Din (North) and Anbar (West); The authorities often accuse ISIS militants of being behind them.

Iraq produces between 19-21 thousand megawatts of electric power, while the actual need exceeds 30 thousand megawatts, according to officials in the electricity sector.