In brief
Experts reported that numerous internet access disruptions were linked to cuts in undersea cables in the Red Sea, affecting parts of Asia and the Middle East. While the Iran-backed Houthis have a history of targeting maritime operations, it remains unclear whether these specific incidents were intentional. The internet service response includes rerouting traffic which may slow connections for users in affected regions.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Recent reports indicate that undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea have severely disrupted internet access across Asia and the Middle East, although the cause of the cuts remains ambiguous.
Concerns have emerged, particularly regarding the potential involvement of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who previously targeted maritime operations in efforts to pressure Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the Houthis have historically denied involvement in such attacks.
Undersea cables are critical for global internet infrastructure, facilitating vast amounts of data transfer alongside satellite and land-based connections. Typically, internet service providers manage multiple routes for data; yet, significant failures can lead to slower access for users as traffic is rerouted.
Meanwhile, Microsoft announced that users in the Middle East may experience increased latency due to these difficulties, emphasizing that traffic not flowing through the region remains unaffected. According to NetBlocks, a monitoring service, the outages have specifically impacted services in countries including India and Pakistan, attributed to failures in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, Kuwait has reported issues with the FALCON GCX cable in the Red Sea, having led to slowdowns in the nation, while users in the United Arab Emirates have expressed frustrations with their internet speeds.
The cuts highlight the vulnerabilities of undersea cables, which can be damaged during accidents or targeted attacks and require substantial effort and time to repair. As Yemen’s Houthi rebels persist in their actions against Israel, the possibility of further disruptions looms.
Moammar al-Eryani, Yemen's Information Minister, articulated the gravity of the situation, stating that cable cuts should alert the international community to the growing threats against vital digital infrastructures.
