DUBAI: Internet connectivity has reportedly been severely degraded in most GCC countries due to sabotage targeting undersea fiber cables in the Red Sea.
Security officials blamed the attacks on the Houthi militant group, which has been actively disrupting communication lines off the coast of Yemen that connect the Arabian Peninsula to Africa.
Sky News Arabia, citing sources, said the Houthis were involved in destroying communications lines under the Red Sea.
This significantly disrupted the flow of data between Africa and Europe, affecting a vital cable system operated by international telecommunications company Secom.
The company confirmed that there had been a breakdown in the Red Sea infrastructure, highlighting in particular that parts of the cable system were rendered inoperable as a result of the incident.
The damage involved four undersea communication cables, and some estimates suggest that repairs could take up to two months.
Although initial assessments indicated significant but non-fatal damage, the incident is expected to cause significant disruption to communications between Europe and Asia.
SECOM has acknowledged the confusion, but has not yet announced the cause.
Amid these developments, the Houthis have escalated their maritime aggression, launching explosive-laden missiles and drones at commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19 in response to Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. did.
The Houthis have also issued warnings to maritime authorities and insurance companies, declaring that ships associated with Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom will be prohibited from sailing near the disputed area.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command announced that its forces had destroyed three maritime drones, one airborne drone, and two cruise missiles in Yemen that were preparing for an attack in the Red Sea.
Monday’s airstrike marked the latest effort by the Iran-backed Houthi group, which controls much of northwestern Yemen, to avert further attacks on commercial shipping in the vital waterway.
Centcom said in a statement posted on social media platform
Earlier on Monday, the South African company announced that an undersea cable it manages was damaged off the coast of Yemen, but the cause has not yet been determined. The cable connects Europe and India.
The Houthis have threatened on social media to sabotage vital submarine cables, but there is no evidence that they have been successful.
Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which began in response to Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, have continued despite a series of airstrikes by the United States and Britain.
