Yemen Monitor / Marib / Exclusive:
Intelligence sources have revealed that indirect secret talks—held under the auspices of the Sultanate of Oman—have suffered repeated setbacks due to the “intransigence” of the armed Houthi group. These sensitive negotiations aim to establish a mechanism to restore damaged undersea cables and ensure the protection of vital telecommunications projects in the Red Sea.
The French publication Intelligence Online, in a recent report reviewed by Yemen Monitor, stated that Omani mediation efforts had stepped in to facilitate dialogue between the Houthis and stakeholders in submarine cable projects, including telecommunications companies and governments.
The main goal of these talks was to establish “safe zones” or obtain firm guarantees from the Houthis to halt attacks targeting this global infrastructure—paving the way for the implementation of new fiber-optic cable projects.
However, the intelligence bulletin confirmed that the Houthis “withdrew from the negotiations,” justifying their decision by citing what they described as “rising tensions in the Red Sea.”
A source within Yemen’s internationally recognized government told Yemen Monitor that the government is “fully aware” of the progress and repeated setbacks of these secret talks, caused by the Houthis’ rigid stance.
The official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, warned of the grave danger posed by continued threats to the submarine cables—which form the backbone of the global internet network. He cautioned that the group is attempting to use this issue as a bargaining chip within the context of local and regional conflict.
The breakdown in negotiations reflects a familiar pattern seen in previous indirect talks sponsored by Oman, which achieved a temporary de-escalation of maritime attacks in early 2024 before later stalling.
The intelligence report highlighted that the negotiations over repairing the submarine cables came to a “decisive halt” following Israeli airstrikes in August 2025 that targeted Houthi leaders. Specifically, Intelligence Online noted that the successful strike which killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahwi “severely undermined the fragile framework of trust” needed to de-escalate tensions and advance any agreement.
Days after the Israeli strike—specifically in early September—several submarine cables in the Red Sea were cut, causing major internet disruptions across large parts of Asia and the Middle East. The true cause of the incident remains unclear.
Although the Houthis have neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the September attacks, concerns are mounting that the group may have been behind them—especially since its official media outlets had repeatedly threatened to target these strategic cables.
Submarine cables form one of the main backbones of the internet, alongside satellite and terrestrial connections. Internet service providers typically maintain multiple access points and can reroute traffic if one link fails, though this can slow down users’ connections.
