Tel Aviv: The international fiber based communication system is under attack by the Houthi rebels is Yemen, a main Iranian proxy. Israeli sources said that these attacks will continue unless the US and European countries act against this Houthi underwater sabotage.
Multiple underwater communication fibers in the Red Sea have been cut, leading to significant internet disruptions across parts of Asia and the Middle East, including countries like India, Pakistan, and Gulf states.
Recent reports confirm several undersea cables—crucial for global internet connectivity—were severed near the Saudi port of Jeddah, affecting South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe (SMW4) and IMEWE cable systems. Users in the UAE on Du and Etisalat networks, and large regional providers like Pakistan Telecommunications, reported major slowdowns, while Microsoft warned of increased latency for internet services crossing the region.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government in exile had previously accused the Houthi rebels of plotting attacks against these cables, particularly as part of their campaign to pressure Israel during the conflict in Gaza. However, the Houthis publicly deny responsibility for recent cuts, even as their own media channels acknowledged the outages and referenced external reports of infrastructure damage. The timing of the cable cuts, closely follows a series of maritime attacks and broader efforts by the Houthis to disrupt traffic and infrastructure in the Red Sea.
Underwater cable repairs are difficult, time-consuming, and call for specialised vessels and tools. The sabotage of the underwater cables are a new phase in the Houthi , Iranian controlled action like attacks on shipping, which have included drone and missile strikes against ships in the Gulf and Red Sea.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
