The incident comes amid concerns that Houthi forces in Yemen may target the sea cable system in a campaign to pressure Israel to end the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the Houthis have repeatedly denied attacking the cables.
Microsoft said that the Middle East "may experience increased delays due to underwater fiber optic breakage in the Red Sea", while affirming that data flows not passing through the Middle East will not be affected.
Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks confirmed that a series of underwater cable incidents in the Red Sea have degraded Internet connectivity in many countries, including India and Pakistan. The cause is believed to be the SMW4 and IMEWE cables near Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia.
The Southeast Asia - Middle East - Western Europe route 4 (SMW4) is operated by Tata Communications (under an Indian corporation), while the India - Middle East - Western Europe route (IME) is operated by a consortium overseen by Alcatel- Lucent. Both units have not commented.
Pakistan Telecommunications Group (PTCL) confirmed a cable break in a notice on September 6. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has not publicly acknowledged the situation.
Network users in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have also complained about slow Internet speed on the Du and Etisalat telecommunications networks. The UAE government has not yet responded officially.
According to experts, underground cables can be cut due to ship anchorage but can also become a target for targeted attacks. The repair process often takes many weeks due to the need for specialized ships and divers to the damaged area.
The incident comes as the Houthis continue their offensive against Israel. Previously, from the end of 2023 to the end of 2024, this group attacked more than 100 ships with missiles and UAVs, killing at least 8 crew members and sinking 4 ships.
In early 2024, the Yemen government was internationally recognized for accusing the Houthis of planning to sabotage seaports in the Red Sea and in fact many routes were cut. Song Houthi has denied responsibility. The group's al- Masirah TV channel recently admitted that the cable incidents had occurred, citing NetBlocks.
Meanwhile, the prospect of a new ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile.
