Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:24am on 07 Sep 2025,Sunday International
Internet services across Asia and the Middle East face major disruptions after undersea cables were severed in the Red Sea, affecting countries including Pakistan and the UAE. NetBlocks reported failures in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, causing widespread connectivity issues. While the exact cause remains unclear, concerns exist about Houthi rebels targeting cables as part of their Red Sea campaign to pressure Israel over Gaza, though the Yemen-based group has denied past attacks on internet infrastructure. Microsoft confirmed Middle East disruptions but noted unaffected traffic routes. UAE users experience slower speeds on state-owned Du and Etisalat networks. Saudi Arabia hasn't commented on the cable failures near its territory.
