Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Internet services across vast parts of Asia and the Middle East were disrupted on Sunday due to the severing of a major submarine cable in the Red Sea, according to experts, though the exact cause of the incident remains unclear.
The outage has fueled concerns that the Houthis may be targeting undersea cables as part of their ongoing military campaign, despite their repeated denials of attacking such infrastructure.
Microsoft confirmed on its website that the Middle East region is experiencing noticeable internet latency due to undersea fiber cuts, noting that traffic not routed through the region was unaffected.
Similarly, NetBlocks reported a deterioration in internet connectivity in countries such as India and Pakistan due to failures in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
These crucial submarine cables, operated by companies in India and managed by international consortia, provide vital links between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe.
The companies involved have not yet responded to requests for comment, and Saudi authorities have issued no official statement regarding the disruption.
According to the Associated Press, the United Arab Emirates — home to cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi — has seen widespread complaints from users of Du and Etisalat networks over slowed connections, though the Emirati government has yet to make an official comment.
The outage comes amid escalating Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, targeting commercial and fishing vessels with missiles and drones in direct response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The Houthis, through Al-Masirah TV, acknowledged the disruptions, citing NetBlocks data, despite previously denying responsibility for severing cables.
Between November 2023 and December 2024, the Houthis carried out more than 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea, some of which sank four vessels and killed at least eight sailors, while Israeli airstrikes continued targeting Houthi leadership.
This escalation comes as prospects for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain stalled, and U.S. talks with Iran over its nuclear program falter amid rising regional tensions.
Reports suggest that submarine cable cuts can occur either accidentally, such as from ships dropping anchors, or through deliberate attacks — heightening international concern over the security of vital communications infrastructure in this critical global chokepoint.
