Red Sea Escalation Threatens to Disrupt Global Telecommunications

Three cables under the Red Sea that provide global internet and telecommunications have been cut, and the cut lines include Asia-Africa-Europe 1, the Europe India Gateway, Seacom and TGN-Gulf, said Hong Kong-based HGC Global Communications. 

The cuts can affect 25% of the traffic flowing through the Red Sea.

While the cause of the cuts remains unknown, the Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea have been referred to as the reason for this problem. The Houthis say their military operations in the Red Sea are in retaliation against the Israeli war on Gaza, where over 30000 have been killed. 

The Houthis have claimed their responsibility for attacking commercial vessels and warshipsin the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. However, they have denied hitting telecommunication and internet cables. 

Telecommunications Minister in the Sanaa-based Houthi government, Misfer Al-Numair urged ships to obtain permission from Houthi authorities before entering Yemeni waters.

Al-Numair said, "Maritime cable ships must obtain permission from the Maritime Affairs Authority in Sanaa before entering Yemeni territorial waters."

He added, "The Ministry of Telecommunications is ready to assist in meeting permit requests and providing ship identification to the Yemeni naval forces, emphasizing our commitment to their safety."

In February, Yemen's internationally recognized government accused the Houthis of planning to attack the telecommunications cables in the Red Sea. 

Reports have said the Houthi group was able to easily access maps showing the intersection of undersea communications cables that pass near their coasts, specifically at the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is 20 miles (32 kilometers) wide at its narrowest.

Former Royal Navy submarine commander Rear Adm John Gower says the Houthi group would require support to sabotage the Red Sea cables. 

He added, "It would need an ally with the capability, [someone with] a submersible plus the ability to locate [the cables]".

On February 22, Houthi movement chief Abdulmalek Al-Houthi said his group was stepping up attacks on ships in the Red Sea and other waters - including with new "submarine weapons".

Last week, Al-Houthi vowed to introduce military "surprises" in their Red Sea operations. He said, "Our military operations will continue and advance, and we have surprises that our enemies will not expect at all."