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militants have conducted a series of attacks on transformation towers in Iraq in recent weeks, compromising the country's already weak electricity supply amid soaring summer temperatures.

IS has focusedÌý on electricity infrastructureÌýin Diyala province, which borders Iran, sources from the interior and electricity ministries told °®Âþµº's Arabic-language sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Some of the towers carry energy loads from Iran through Diyala to other partsÌýof Iraq.Ìý

Iraqi authorities have in the pastÌýblamed the attacks on , although sources revealed that IS has conducted 30 attacks on transformation towers and stations over the past four weeks.

The attacks have led to entire cities being left without power, the sources said, sometimes taking authoritiesÌýthree days to restore electricity supplies.

Iraqi security expert Ahmed Al-Nuaimi told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the attacks are partly intended to undermine the Iraqi government's standingÌýand provoke more protests in the country.

Iraqis need electricity to power air conditioning and fridges, with inadequateÌýsuppliesÌý.

Iraq is suffering from a long, hot summer this year with the temperatureÌýin Baghdad predicted to soar to 48 degrees Celsius by the end of the week.

The national grid provides electricity for only part of the day with Iraqis turning toÌýgenerators to patch up their electricity supplies.

In a blow to Iraq’s ability to produce electricity, Iran last year reduced its gas exports to Iraq due to overdue payments.

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In a bid to cut its energy dependence on other countries, Iraq's governmentÌýsaid it wants to construct eight nuclear reactors by the year 2030.

The spokesman for Iraq's electricity ministryÌýtold state media that itÌýhad to protect transmission towers, including asking for the interior and defence ministries to "provide the necessary protection" and orderingÌýthermal cameras to be installed near power lines.

The ministry said it also met with local government and tribal leaders to see how bestÌýto protect the towers.

In previous summers, IS have orchestrated a campaign of crop fires across a stretch of Iraq and Syria, the dried-out grassland and pasture the perfect tinder.

IS was declared defeated in Iraq in December 2017, but they maintain a presence in the country's disputed territories, including in parts of Diyala province.

The UK's newest aircraft carrier, , will take part in operations against IS in Iraq, naval commanders said on Sunday.

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