Iraq was crippled by a total blackout amid drone attacks and the US-Israeli war against Iran. Authorities are investigating the cause and trying to restore the network.
Iraq was hit by a complete blackout of electricity supplies on Wednesday, the Ministry of Energy announced, according to the state agency INA. The cause of the blackout was not immediately known, but according to the AFP agency, parts of Iraq have become the target of repeated attacks in recent days amid the US and Israel’s war against Iran.
- Iraq experienced a complete blackout in all provinces on Wednesday.
- The cause of the Iraqi blackout is still unknown, the investigation is still ongoing.
- Iraqi areas have faced repeated drone attacks and explosions in recent days.
- Drones were shot down again near the Baghdad airport and in Arbil.
- The US Embassy urged American citizens to leave Iraq as soon as possible.
The US Embassy in Baghdad advised its citizens on Wednesday to leave Iraq immediately if the situation permits. TASR informs about it.
Cause of power outage
“The power grid has been completely shut down in all Iraqi provinces,” said a statement from the ministry, which is currently investigating the cause and working to restore power plants and transmission systems.
AFP reported in another report that drones were shot down again near the international airport in Baghdad. Explosions were also reported in the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Arbil, where the American consulate is located and where American troops are deployed as part of the anti-terrorist coalition.
Rising tensions in the Middle East
The autonomous Kurdish region has been drawn into the latest escalation in the Middle East after drone and other attacks attributed to Tehran threatened US bases in Iraq and targeted Kurdish opposition groups in Iraqi Kurdistan on the border with Iran.
“US citizens in Iraq are strongly advised to leave as soon as it is safe to do so,” the Baghdad-based embassy said in a statement. Those for whom the situation does not permit are to remain in their places until conditions change. “If it is safe, the Americans should leave Iraq now,” the embassy added.
