Three Red Sea underwater data cables cut as Houthis launch more attacks

Three telecommunication lines running under the Red Sea have been cut as Yemen’s Houthi rebels continue to target the waterway.

A statement by Hong Kong-based HGC Global Communications acknowledged the cuts but did not say what caused the lines to be severed. There has been concern about the cables being targeted in the Houthi campaign, which the rebels describe as an effort to pressure Israel to end its war on Hamas in Gaza. However, the Houthis have denied attacking the lines.

The severed lines include Asia-Africa-Europe 1, the Europe India Gateway, Seacom and TGN-Gulf. According to HGC Global Communications, the cuts are affecting 25% of the traffic flowing through the Red Sea. It described the Red Sea route as crucial for data moving from Asia to Europe and said it had begun rerouting traffic.

While the Seacom-TGN-Gulf line are two separate cables, it was one line at the area of the cut. Both Seacom and Tata Communications, part of the Indian conglomerate and behind the Seacom-TGN-Gulf line, told Associated Press that they are taking action where possible and rerouting traffic.

Since November, the Houthi rebels have repeatedly launched attacks, including targeting ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. According to UK-based Ambrey, a global maritime risk management company, the Houthis continue to target Israeli, American and British-linked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In February, four vessels were targeted by the Houthis.

According to a statement by Seacom, it remains unclear how the Houthis could attack subsea cables themselves. However, subsea cables can be cut by anchors, including those dropped from some of the ships that have been disabled in attacks. A drifting ship with its anchor scraping the sea could be the culprit.

“Our team thinks it is plausible that it could have been affected by anchor dragging, due to the amount of marine traffic the region deals with and the low seabed in many parts of the Red Sea. This can only be confirmed once the repair ship is on site,” Seacom said.