Internet cables belonging to four major telecommunications networks were damaged in the Red Sea, causing “significant” disruption to Middle Eastern communications networks, according to Hong Kong telecommunications company HGC Global Communications.

HGC estimates that 25% of traffic between Asia and Europe, as well as the Middle East, was affected, it said in a statement on Monday (4).

The company said it is rerouting traffic to minimize disruptions for customers and also “extending assistance to affected businesses.”

HGC did not say how the cables were damaged or who was responsible.

The destruction comes weeks after the Yemeni government warned of the possibility of an attack on the cables by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who disrupted global supply chains by attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Reports last week from Israeli media outlet Globes suggested that the Houthis were behind the damage to the cables.

Yemeni rebel leader Abdel Malek al-Houthi denied the allegations. “We have no intention of targeting the maritime cables that provide internet to countries in the region,” he said.

Among the affected networks is the Europe India Gateway, which stretches 15,000 km between Europe, the Middle East and India.

Asia-Africa-Europe, a 25,000km cable system linking Southeast Asia to Europe via Egypt, was also damaged.

*With information from Wayne Chang, Celine Alkhaldi and Alex Stambaugh of CNN International

Source: https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/economia/macroeconomia/mar-vermelho-cabos-de-internet-sao-danificados-e-prejudicam-trafego-global/