2024-02-05 23:54:43
The network of underwater telecommunications cables – 17% of the world’s Internet traffic passes under the Red Sea – could be the Houthis’ new target as they continue to attack ships off Yemen. In a recent message on a telegram channel linked to militiamen for a pro-Iranian group, a map was published showing the networks in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf accompanied by a cryptic message: “It seems that Yemen is in a strategic position, since internet lines that connect entire continents, not just countries, pass near here.”
“Time to adapt maritime tactics, then cables could be soft targets”
So far, underlines Emily Milliken, an expert at the Gulf International Forum, a Washington-based think tank, “the cables have been kept safe more due to the relative technological underdevelopment of the Houthis than due to a lack of motivation”. And that’s because the group has primarily fought a ground war against Yemen’s internationally recognized government and its Saudi and Emirati allies: “As a result, it has never developed a highly trained navy or marine contingent” and, although the Houthis have retained the ability to attack ships with missiles or small boats, they do not have the underwater means necessary to reach the cables, is the expert’s analysis.
He then warns: “Given sufficient time and opportunity, the Houthis may be able to adapt some of their maritime tactics to target vital communications infrastructure.” In essence, while the Houthis have long represented a threat to international maritime traffic, the group’s latest series of “increasingly brazen” attacks underlines its intention to play a larger role in the region. And a network of underwater communications cables vitally important could be the perfect soft target for their next attack, a possibility that should worry all nations that depend on this critical infrastructure.”
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