Houthis deny targeting underwater cables amid marine disaster warning

Source: The Guardian

Houthis deny targeting underwater cables amid marine disaster warning

Yemeni government warns of Red Sea environmental disaster after cargo ship struck by rebels last week

Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Wed 28 Feb 2024 11.41 GMT
First published on Wed 28 Feb 2024 11.31 GMT

Houthi leaders have denied they have targeted critical underwater sea telecommunication cables, as Yemen’s UN-recognised government warned of an imminent marine environmental disaster if a cargo ship struck by the rebels last week was not quickly rescued.

The Rubymar, a Belize-flagged but British-owned bulk carrier, has been drifting in the Red Sea after it was struck by two missiles. The ship, which is feared to be in danger of sinking, is leaking an 18-mile oil spill and carrying 41,000 tonnes of volatile fertiliser.

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It has long been feared that the Houthis might extend their actions by disrupting internet traffic and cutting sea cables.

Sixteen small fibre-optic lines across the bed of the Red Sea carry about 17% of all international data traffic, including trunk lines connecting Europe with India and east Asia.

It was reported on Monday that cables belonging to four big telecom networks – including the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1), TGN Atlantic, Europe India Gateway and the Seacom system – have been damaged in recent months. The cause of the damage has not been identified and natural damage happens relatively regularly.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/28/houthis-deny-targeting-underwater-cables-marine-disaster-warning-red-sea

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Others have suggested that the stricken ship Rubymar may have snagged the cables
with it's anchor.