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Sea cables are a new Houthi target.
In recent weeks, the situation in Yemen has worsened due to the ongoing attacks of the Houthi rebel group, supported by Iran, on naval vessels off the coast of the country. These Houthi actions targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea come despite joint efforts by the United States and Britain to weaken the group's military capabilities.
The increased level of conflict threatens not only maritime navigation, but also critical underwater telecommunications cables in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. On December 24, 2023, the Houthis, via their Telegram channel, published a map showing a network of underwater communication cables in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf, accompanied by an ominous message about Yemen's strategic position.
The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea led the major shipping company Maersk to announce the suspension of traffic through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This will lead to increased transit times and shipping costs, which is likely to affect prices for consumers around the world. The situation has escalated to such an extent that the United States has created a new international maritime task force to counter Houthi attacks.
Of particular concern is the possibility of damage to underwater cables, which are an important part of the global digital infrastructure that provides more than 95% of international data exchange and communication, including daily financial transactions worth about $ 10 trillion. Any damage to these cables can lead to serious economic disruption in different countries.
The Houthis, despite their technological limitations, can adapt their naval tactics to attack this vital communications infrastructure. It is important to note that Yemen occupies a key position in the region, which is home to some of the three main "bottlenecks" for underwater cables in the world, which makes this threat particularly significant for world powers such as China and the United States.
In recent weeks, the situation in Yemen has worsened due to the ongoing attacks of the Houthi rebel group, supported by Iran, on naval vessels off the coast of the country. These Houthi actions targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea come despite joint efforts by the United States and Britain to weaken the group's military capabilities.
The increased level of conflict threatens not only maritime navigation, but also critical underwater telecommunications cables in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. On December 24, 2023, the Houthis, via their Telegram channel, published a map showing a network of underwater communication cables in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf, accompanied by an ominous message about Yemen's strategic position.
The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea led the major shipping company Maersk to announce the suspension of traffic through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This will lead to increased transit times and shipping costs, which is likely to affect prices for consumers around the world. The situation has escalated to such an extent that the United States has created a new international maritime task force to counter Houthi attacks.
Of particular concern is the possibility of damage to underwater cables, which are an important part of the global digital infrastructure that provides more than 95% of international data exchange and communication, including daily financial transactions worth about $ 10 trillion. Any damage to these cables can lead to serious economic disruption in different countries.
The Houthis, despite their technological limitations, can adapt their naval tactics to attack this vital communications infrastructure. It is important to note that Yemen occupies a key position in the region, which is home to some of the three main "bottlenecks" for underwater cables in the world, which makes this threat particularly significant for world powers such as China and the United States.
