Red Sea Communication Cable Disruption: Accusations Against Houthis and Criticism from Yemeni Activists

Watan-Emirati media outlets, citing what they described as informed security sources—unnamed—have announced that the Yemeni Houthi group targeted and detonated “Fiber Cable” communication lines extending under the Red Sea.

The Emirati channel “Sky News Arabia” reported that the Houthis blew up these lines connecting the Arabian Peninsula to Africa, noting that repairing them could take up to 8 weeks.

Communication cables disrupted and accusations against the Houthis

The Houthi group has not claimed responsibility for this operation, nor have they commented on it so far, and no official statement has been issued regarding it, whether confirming or denying it.

The Emirati channel, citing the same sources, added that “preliminary assessment indicates that the subsequent damage to the Red Sea cables is significant but not serious.”

The international communications company “SEACOM” announced in a statement that part of the cable system serving East Africa, which crosses the Red Sea, experienced disruption on Saturday, affecting traffic flow between Africa and Europe.

مصادر أمنية لسكاي نيوز عربية: خطوط الفايبر المستهدفة تربط بين الجزيرة العربية وإفريقيا، وإصلاحها قد يستغرق ما يصل إلى 8 أسابيع#سوشال_سكاي#البحر_الأحمر #الحوثيين pic.twitter.com/VRT6A4JCAL

— سكاي نيوز عربية (@skynewsarabia) February 26, 2024

The disruption occurred only in the part of the cable extending from Mombasa (Kenya) to Zaafarana (Egypt). Initial assessments suggest that the marine cable disruption occurred in the vicinity of the Red Sea, and it appears that other cables in the region may also have been affected.

The company’s statement came after Israeli reports spoke of the disruption, attributing it to what they described as “Houthi attacks.”

SEACOM confirmed that its infrastructure in the Red Sea was affected by a fault, affecting the cable system and the flow of information between Africa and Europe. However, the company did not clarify the cause of the disruption and did not make any reference to the Houthi group in its statement.

SEACOM’s statement followed reports by Israeli media about the disruption of communications across 4 cables in the Red Sea, with the Hebrew newspaper “Globes” attributing the reasons to “Houthi attacks.”

The Houthi group has previously affirmed, through more than one official, the safety of marine cables and their non-exposure to damage.

Yemenis criticize the UAE and Sky News

Yemeni activists have cast doubt on the entire story, as its sole source is Emirati and Israeli media.

Some have gone so far as to say that it is the occupation that has carried out sabotage operations against communication cables in the Red Sea, as part of plans to incriminate Yemen internationally in an effort to rally alliances securing Israel, a goal that America has so far failed to achieve.

هذه الأخبار تؤكد الآتي؛
1- أن الإمارات من تقف خلف هذه الأخبار لتشويه موقف اليمن نصرة لإسرائيل.
2- أن الإمارات تحتاج رسالة تأديبية يمنية. pic.twitter.com/6a4zSLSgOC

— فيصل مدهش (@FaisalMudhish) February 26, 2024

In this context, Yemeni activist and politician Faisal Madhesh stated that this news confirms that the UAE is behind these reports to distort Yemen’s position in support of Israel.

And Abd al-Muhsin Husayn from Yemen also wrote: “They were the first to spread the news that (the Houthis) threaten to cut communication lines, and they disseminated it through all means, and all media relied on their news.”

He continued: “And today, here they are, spreading news about security sources regarding the Houthis blowing up the Fiber Cable lines extending under the Red Sea.”