CAIRO: The Houthi Transport Ministry in Yemen said on Saturday there had been a “glitch” in undersea communication cables in the Red Sea as a result of actions by US and British naval vessels.

The actions “endangered the security and safety of the international communications and the flow of information,” the ministry said in a statement, reported by the Houthi-run Saba news agency, without giving details.

“Any glitch in these cables as a result of the militarisation of the Red Sea by US and British naval vessels represents a serious threat to the information security and economic and social stability for all countries of the world,” the statement read.

The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have launched exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since Nov 19 as a protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

The United States and Britain have carried out several strikes against Houthi targets in response.

At least 15 submarine cables pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, a body of water just 26km wide at some points. Yemen is the Strait’s northern shore.

The first reports of damage to submarine cables off the coast of Yemen began emerged last week with Israeli news outlet Globes claiming that four cables (EIG, AAE-1, Seacom and TGN-EA) had experienced damage.

Seacom has reportedly confirmed damage to a cable it operates on a stretch between Kenya and Egypt.

“The location of the cable break is significant due to its geopolitical sensitivity and ongoing tensions, making it a challenging environment for maintenance and repair operations,” Seacom said.

“The team is currently working towards restoration timelines and will communicate these plans with our clients.”

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2024