The Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen has warned that the Houthi militia, which opposes the leadership of Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi, could be shifting its strategy that thus far has concentrated on attacking maritime traffic in the vicinity of the Ba al-Mandab Strait, paralysing vessel use of the Suez Canal.
According to German broadcaster ZDF Heute, the rebels have threatened to sabotage important undersea cables, including internet cables that connect Asia to Europe, which carry 17% of global data traffic.
The latest development in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden comes as conflict between the Houthis and the US Navy continues to escalate in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
According to ZFD the US military reported new air strikes on Houthi positions in the Red Sea.
These attacks destroyed drones loaded with explosives and mobile launchers for cruise missiles, which could pose a threat to ships in the Red Sea.
The developing threat of the Houthis now targeting undersea cables follow after maritime security consultancy, Risk Intelligence, reported earlier this week that attacks by combined Western naval forces around the Horn of Africa have crippled Houthi military capacity by at least 50%, decreasing the rebels’ capacity to launch missiles, use radar and related capabilities.
Speakers at a shipping-disrupting webinar hosted earlier this week by South Africa’s Maritime Business Council agreed that it may be too difficult for the Houthis to sabotage undersea cables.
However, the Houthi threat remains.
ZDF reported that the rebels will continue as long as Israel does not end its offensive in Gaza.
