Undersea cables cut in the Red Sea, disrupting internet access in Asia and the Mideast

Significant disruptions to internet access were reported across parts of Asia and the Middle East on Sunday due to damage to undersea cables in the Red Sea. While the exact cause of the cable cuts remains unclear, concerns have arisen about potential targeting by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have been engaged in escalating tensions related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Microsoft issued a statement via its status website indicating that users in the Middle East might experience increased latency due to these undersea fiber cuts. The tech giant clarified that internet traffic not routed through the region would not be affected. NetBlocks, an organization that tracks internet connectivity, confirmed the outages, attributing them to failures in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems located near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The SMW4 cable, managed by Tata Communications, and the IMEWE cable, overseen by Alcatel-Lucent, both experienced disruptions. As of this report, neither company has provided further comments on the situation. In Saudi Arabia, governmental authorities have not publicly acknowledged the incident, nor have they responded to inquiries regarding the disruptions. Users in the United Arab Emirates, particularly those using the Du and Etisalat networks, have reported slower internet speeds as a result. This incident occurs amidst ongoing hostilities involving the Houthis, who have continuously targeted Israeli vessels and interests in response to the conflict in Gaza. Previously, in early 2024, Yemen's exiled government accused the Houthis of planning attacks on undersea cables in the Red Sea. Although several cables were damaged, the Houthis denied any involvement at that time. However, on Sunday, their al-Masirah satellite news outlet confirmed that the cuts had indeed occurred. The Houthi rebels have conducted over 100 attacks against maritime vessels related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, resulting in the sinking of four ships and the deaths of at least eight sailors. Following a brief ceasefire, the group faced a renewed wave of airstrikes from Israel, targeting their leadership. With ongoing tensions and a potential ceasefire hanging in the balance, the implications of these undersea cable disruptions remain significant for regional connectivity and international relations.