Could the Houthis potentially disrupt global internet communications?
Could the Houthis potentially disrupt global internet communications?
According to a report published by the Washington-based Gulf International Forum, the next target for the Houthis' attacks may be underwater communication cables, which are located in the Red Sea near Yemen. Damage to them could significantly impact the global economy
The target of the next attack by Yemen’s Houthis could be submarine communications cables in the Red Sea, says a report published by the Gulf International Forum, a Washington-based research institute. The Forum, which focuses on the Gulf countries, Iraq, and Yemen, published the report titled "The Next Casualty of the Red Sea Attacks: Undersea Cables," stating that the Houthis, undeterred by Western strikes, might turn to damaging submarine cables near Yemen. These cables are essential for the functioning of the internet and transferring financial data in the West, and the report cautions that if they are attacked the global economy will likely be impacted significantly.
The report highlights Yemen's strategic location for the passage of submarine communication cables, with the Bab al-Mandab area serving as a transit point not only for ships but also the submarine cables. While the Houthis have not explicitly expressed intent to damage cables, a Houthi-linked Telegram channel recently published a map of cables in the Red Sea, with a message: “There are maps of international cables connecting all regions of the world through the sea. It seems that Yemen is in a strategic location, as internet lines that connect entire continents – not only countries – pass near it.”
These cables are considered a critical component in the global digital infrastructure, serving around 95% of international data and communication, including financial transactions worth $10 trillion daily. Therefore, even partial damage to these cables could disrupt internet access and cause significant economic disruptions worldwide.
The report emphasized that damaging these cables could sever the military or governmental communication of Gulf states, as it is the only infrastructure with sufficient bandwidth for the terabytes of military data required for day-to-day operations. However, the report says that the “cables have been kept safe more due to the Houthis’ relative technological underdevelopment than for a lack of motivation.”
Yemen’s General Telecommunications Corporation condemned the threats and warned that there are sixteen submarine cables in the Red Sea running towards Egypt, one of the most important being a 25,000 kilometer-long (15,500 miles) Asia-Africa-Europe AE-1 which connects Southeast Asia to Europe via the Red Sea.
The report stated that “the Houthis have maintained the capability to harass surface shipping through missiles and fast-attack craft but lack the submersibles necessary to reach the cables.” While this is good news, on the other hand the report notes that the waters of the Gulf are relatively shallow, reaching a depth of only 100 meters, reducing the need for the Houthis to develop advanced submarine technologies to reach the cables.
In 2013, three divers were arrested by Egypt after attempting to cut the international communication cable near the Alexandria port, responsible for most internet communication between Europe and Egypt. This example illustrates that those wishing to damage submarine communication cables in the region do not necessarily require advanced technologies to do so. Additionally, the Houthis have capabilities in underwater mine deployment, which may assist them in damaging cables if they choose to do so.
