Targeted by the Houthis

How the submarine internet cables run along the seabed

Members of the Yemeni coast guard with links to the Houthi militia patrol the Red Sea, where 16 important submarine internet cables run along the bottom. Four of them are currently out of order.(Bild: AFP/KCNA via KNS)

The Houthi terror in the Red Sea is not only proving to be a threat to shipping, but could also have a negative impact on the supply of telecom services in many EU countries. Apparently, the Iranian-backed Yemeni militia is now targeting the submarine internet cables on the seabed. There is a threat of global repercussions.

Sabotage or accident - opinions are still divided. What is certain, however, is that submarine cables in the Red Sea have been repeatedly damaged in recent months. Four submarine cable links between Europe and Asia have been damaged, according to sources in Israel - and suspicion falls on the Houthi militia, which attacks cargo ships in the Red Sea. However, in order to prove the sabotage, the cables must first be lifted and examined - a lengthy and dangerous process due to the constant Houthi attacks, for which a special ship - probably with military escort - must be moved to the region. However, sabotage would not be surprising: submarine cables are the backbone of the World Wide Web and a high-value target not only for terrorists, but also for the military and intelligence services. The background.