Damage to submarine cables in the Red Sea have caused Internet interruptions in Asia and the Middle East. Experts do not exclude deliberate attacks
The ship off the ribs of Yemen, after being hit by a rocket claimed by the Houthi rebels supported by Iran. Photo: AFP / Profimedia
Submarine cables in the Red Sea have been damaged, causing interruptions and slowing of internet access to several countries in Asia and the Middle East, experts announced on Sunday, without the exact source of the incident for now, CNBC reports, according to News.ro.
The situation re -enters the concerns about possible attacks on the communications infrastructure, in the context of the pressure campaign of Houthi rebels on Israel, as a result of the Gaza War. However, the rebels have denied in the past that they had targeted these lines.
Microsoft warned that users in the Middle East can experience “increased latency” due to damage to the Red Sea fiber cables, but said that the Internet traffic that does not pass through the region is not affected.
Netblocks, an organization that monitors global connectivity, confirmed a “series of interruptions” that have also affected India and Pakistan, attributing faults on SMW4 and Imewe, near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In the United Arab Emirates, users of Du and Etisalat networks complained at low internet speeds, while Saudi and Emirates did not comment on the incident.
Experts say that damage can be caused accidentally by ship anchors, but they do not exclude deliberate attacks. Repairs can take weeks, it is necessary to locate the affected cables and send specialized equipment.
The incident occurs against the background of intensifying tensions in the region. The rebels Houthi, supported by Iran, attacked over 100 commercial ships from November 2023 until the end of 2024, and the war between Israel and Hamas continues, with possible cessation negotiations that are still in suspense.
The authority of the airports in Israel said on Sunday that a drone launched in Yemen hit the Ramon Airport arrival room, near the Eilat city, from the Red Sea.
