Internet services across parts of Asia and the Middle East faced disruptions after undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut, according to experts’ statement on Sunday. While concerns were raised over possible sabotage amid ongoing conflict in the region, it was not immediately clear what caused the incident, according to the news agency Associated Press. Microsoft said on its status page that the Middle East “may experience increased latency due to undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea,” though internet traffic outside the region was not affected.
Houthis, Iran Unleash New Hybrid War At Sea? Undersea Cable Cuts Cripples Internet In These Regions
The Red Sea is one of the world’s busiest data corridors, carrying a significant share of traffic between Asia and Europe. Disruptions there can ripple across multiple countries, a mark of how dependent global connectivity remains on a handful of vulnerable submarine cables.NetBlocks, which is a global watchdog monitoring internet access, reported “a series of subsea cable outages in the Red Sea” had degraded connectivity in several countries, including India and Pakistan. It identified failures to be impacting the South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 (SMW4) and the India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE) cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The SMW4 is run by Tata Communications, part of India’s Tata Group, while IMEWE is managed by a consortium overseen by Alcatel-Lucent. Both firms did not immediately respond to requests for comment, as per the AP report. Pakistan Telecommunications Co. Ltd. confirmed the cuts in a statement on Saturday. In the UAE, users of state-owned Du and Etisalat networks also complained of slower speeds, though authorities there and in Saudi Arabia did not comment. In Kuwait, authorities also said the FALCON GCX cable running through the Red Sea had been cut, causing disruptions in the small, oil-rich nation. GCX did not respond to a request for comment. Submarine cables, a key part of global internet infrastructure, are vulnerable to ship anchors or deliberate attacks. Repairs typically take weeks, requiring specialised vessels to locate and fix the damage. The disruption comes as Yemen’s Houthi rebels continue attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas war. While speculation has grown about their role in targeting subsea infrastructure, the group has denied previous responsibility. On Sunday, the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite channel acknowledged reports of the outages, citing NetBlocks, but did not claim involvement. Yemen’s internationally recognised government, however, alleged the cable cuts “cannot be isolated from the series of direct attacks carried out by the Houthi militia.” Yemen’s information minister Moammar al-Eryani was quoted as saying by AFP, “What is happening today in the Red Sea should serve as a wake-up call for the international community, which must take a firm stance to stop these escalating threats and protect the digital infrastructure that serves as the lifeline of the modern world.” From late 2023 through 2024, the Houthis struck over 100 ships in the Red Sea using missiles and drones, sinking four and killing at least eight mariners. The Iranian-backed rebels sank two more vessels in July, killing at least four on board, with others believed to be held by the group. Their campaign, which they frame as pressure on Israel over Gaza, has drawn retaliatory airstrikes. Israel has responded with strikes, including one that killed top leaders within the movement. Earlier this year, Yemen’s internationally recognised government accused the Houthis of planning to attack cables, though the group denied it. Several cables were cut, possibly by a ship attacked by the Houthis dragging its anchor, but the rebels again rejected responsibility. The Houthis briefly paused their attacks during a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war but later became the target of a weekslong US air campaign ordered by President Donald Trump before he declared a truce with the rebels.