Asia Connectivity Disrupted, Undersea Cable Cuts in Red Sea: Unsung Heroes or Rebels at Fault?

Internet connectivity in parts of Asia, including India, and regions of the West East experienced disruption after a series of undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea occured. The catalyst for these unfortunate incidents remains uncertain. It has been suggested by some that these cables might have been compromised in the Red Sea due to untoward activities by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Interestingly, the rebels have been quick to reject these allegations and deny any involvement in similar incidents in the past.

The undersea cables, specifically the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, play crucial roles in maintaining a seamless internet connection across numerous countries. These facilities are managed and maintained by large consortiums, including an Indian conglomerate. When requested to comment on the issue, an immediate response was not provided by either of the companies. Similarly, Saudi Arabia showed no rush in acknowledging the disruption.

In the United Arab Emirates, renowned for its bustling cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, users of the state-owned networks shameed about declining internet speeds. Rather peculiarly, the government too remained silent and did not acknowledge the disruption right away. However, it’s noteworthy that any anomalies experienced with internet connectivity in West Asia can be tied back to the undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea, suggesting a larger issue at play.

Cable cuts aside, Yemen’s Houthi rebels stay intertwined in a series of disputes with Israel originating from the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. As the incidents unfold, Israel’s response takes the form of the airstrike actions, significantly impacting the rebels and their operations. However, it’s important to remember that attributing the cable line interruption incidents to the rebels remains suspect at best.

In response to the tumultuous situation, the Yemeni government in exile raised allegations in the early part of 2024 about plots hatched by the Houthis to target undersea cables in the Red Sea. Several such incidents indeed occured, yet the rebels have consistently denied any involvement, sustaining a pattern of repeated denials. By Sunday morning, the unfortunate disruption had been universally accepted and acknowledged.

A time period stretching from November 2023 to December 2024 witnessed over a hundred ships becoming the unfortunate targets of the Houthis. This strategic targeting allegedly was a response to the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. Throughout their campaign, the rebels claimed responsibility for sinking four vessels and brought death to at least eight sailors.

Interestingly, the rebels put a halt to their activities following a brief ceasefire agreement in the epic war. However, any hope for long-term peace was shattered as they soon became the recipients of a concentrated campaign of airstrikes that lasted for several weeks. This resurgence in conflicts saw the collapse of two vessels in July, leading to a minimum of four mortalities with several others believed to be captured by the rebels.

These freshly instigated attacks by the rebels unfolded coincidentally with a potential ceasefire discussion in relation to the Israel-Hamas war, causing uncertainty about the prospects of peace in the region. Subsequently, the future of dialogue sessions between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran’s deteriorating nuclear program gets infused with doubts, following Israel’s twelve-day war against the Islamic Republic.

Rattling tensions between Israel and Iran exalted after the Americans directly targeted three Iranian atomic sites in their response to Iran’s actions. The 12-day long war staged by Israel against the Islamic Republic opened additional avenues of conflict within an already heated region that further amplified uncertainties about the situation.

Amidst all these geopolitical strife, incendiary situations, and enhanced international tensions, one can’t overlook the fact that mundane, but important, aspects of life are also being affected – such as the internet connectivity issues stemming from the Red Sea. The cable cuts, irrespective of their cause, are having a real-life impact on people and businesses in the affected regions.

Looking closely, one observes that while tangible effects such as internet disruption are immediate and acutely felt, the larger, more subtle implications – such as the potential for conspiracies, the sporadic but systematic attacks on ships, and the ceasefires that seem prematurely destined to fail – tell a deeper story.

The underlying interconnectedness, or perhaps contiguity, of these events is intrinsically linked with the complicated and often tumultuous geopolitical landscape of these regions. It challenges us to think about how this complexity seeps into every facet of life, whether it be politics, business, war, or even something as simple as our internet connections.

Perhaps, finally, it may be time to contemplate and acknowledge the relations, whether direct or indirect, between a conflict-laden Gaza strip, an undersea cable cut in the Red Sea, war dialogues between nations, and the unsettled chaos that is being experienced throughout areas of Asia and regions of the West East. It’s a new perspective on how global connectivity, in every sense of the word, shapes our ever-evolving international narrative.

The situation also underscores the necessity for perspicuous dialogues and collaborations amongst all pertinent stakeholders. Amid all the complexity and conflict, it’s only through earnest diplomacy, honest negotiation, and timely communication that a path to sustainable peace can be seen in the horizon.