According to TRTworld.com, the disruptions have been attributed to failures affecting the Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4 (SMW4) and India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE) cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The SMW4 cable is operated by Tata Communications, part of the Indian conglomerate, while the IMEWE cable is managed by a consortium overseen by Alcatel-Lucent. Both companies have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the incident.
In Saudi Arabia, there has been no official acknowledgment of the disruption, and authorities have not responded to requests for comment. Similarly, in the United Arab Emirates, internet users on state-owned Du and Etisalat networks have reported slower internet speeds, though the government has not officially recognized the issue.
The cable cuts coincide with ongoing tensions between the Houthis and Israel, with the Houthis engaging in a series of attacks targeting Israel in response to the prolonged conflict in Gaza. Israel has retaliated with airstrikes, including ones that have killed key leaders within the Houthi group. Earlier this year, Yemen's internationally recognized government in exile accused the Houthis of planning attacks on undersea cables in the Red Sea, though the Houthis denied responsibility.
The Houthis' al Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged the cable cuts on Sunday morning. Between November 2023 and December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones, sinking four vessels and killing at least eight mariners. The group temporarily halted attacks during a ceasefire but later became the focus of a campaign of airstrikes ordered by US President Donald Trump. The Houthis resumed attacks in July, sinking two vessels and resulting in additional casualties.