Houthi submarine cable attack in 2005 Introduction

Houthi submarine cable attack in 2005 Recently, undersea cables in the Red Sea—vital for global internet traffic—were cut, disrupting connectivity across Asia and the Middle East. With Yemen’s Houthi rebels active in the region, suspicion quickly turned toward them. This article investigates whether the Houthis actually attacked the submarine cables, examining evidence, denials, technical factors, and the broader geopolitical context.

What Happened: The Red Sea Cable Disruptions Houthi submarine cable attack in 2005

In early September 2025, multiple undersea fiber-optic cables in the Red Sea were severed—specifically the SMW4, IMEWE, and FALCON GCX systems—causing widespread internet slowdowns in countries like India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, and beyond.

Houthi submarine cable attack in 2005 Microsoft and connectivity monitors such as NetBlocks confirmed increased latency and degraded access—especially to cloud and network services routed through the region.Who’s Being Blamed—and What They Say

1. Yemen’s Government-in-Exile

Yemen’s internationally recognized government, opposed to the Houthis, has firmly condemned the incident, stating:

2. Houthis’ Response

The Houthi rebels have denied involvement in attacks on submarine cables—both now and in past incidents.Houthi submarine cable attack in 2005 While Houthi-run media acknowledged the cable cuts occurred, they stopped short of claiming responsibility.

Could the Houthis Actually Do It?

Technical Limitations

Subsea cables rest deep beneath the sea surface—cutting them requires sophisticated equipment and precise operations. Experts point out that the Houthis lack known underwater sabotage capabilities Houthi submarine cable attack in 2005 .

Accidental Damage by Drifting Ships

Some evidence points to unintentional causes. In early 2024, the cargo vessel Rubymar was attacked, abandoned, and rented by currents—its dragging anchor believed to have severed three undersea cables in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

Pattern of Disruption

Previous incidents—including cuts to AAE-1 and PEACE cables—show a pattern of damage linked to regional instability rather than intentional sabotage.

Why the Houthis are Suspected

There are several reasons why the Houthis are under scrutiny:

Conflict Zone Context: The Red Sea has seen intense Houthi activity against shipping and Israel, heightening suspicion

•   Strategic Vulnerability: Red Sea cables carry massive amounts of Europe–Asia data, making them attractive targets for disruption.

Impact of the Disruption

Internet Slowdowns: Users across the Middle East and South Asia experienced degraded connectivity, cloud service delays, and disrupted business operations Houthi submarine cable attack in 2005.

epair Challenges: Fixing a damaged cable often takes weeks. Repair vessels must locate and access the damage site—logistically complex and costly

The Geopolitical Lens

Regional Conflict Escalation

The attack on cables could serve Houthi strategic goals—pressuring Israel over the Gaza conflict—though they deny it. The Red Sea remains a hotspot for proxy conflict.

Global Infrastructure Risks

Cable disruptions underscore how vulnerable global digital infrastructure is during geopolitical crises—sparking discussions about redundancy and protection.

Q1: Did the Houthis actually cut the cables?
There is no direct evidence. While in the crosshairs, the Houthis have denied involvement, and technical analysis points to accidental damage by a drifting ship’s anchor

Q2: Can the Houthis cut undersea cables intentionally?
Experts argue the Houthis lack the underwater capabilities needed for precise sabotage, making unintentional damage more plausible

Q3: How long will repairs take?
Repairs depend on locating the fault, permissions, and ship availability. Past cases like the PEACE cable saw a three-week restoration, while others took monthsv

Conclusion

While suspicion points toward the Houthis, there is no concrete proof they intentionally cut undersea cables. The more likely scenario involves accidental damage, possibly from drifting, abandoned vessels like the Rubymar. The incident, nonetheless, underscores the fragility of global digital infrastructure and the geopolitical risks surrounding undersea connectivity.

If a submarine cable accident—such as damage, severing, or disruption—were to occur and significantly impact Microsoft’s operations, the financial repercussions could indeed be enormous. While it’s difficult to tie an exact figure to Microsoft’s specific losses, we can estimate the range based on general data about the economic cost of such outages.

Economic Impact of Submarine Cable Disruptions

1. Global Cost Per Hour and Day

The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) estimates that underwater fiber-optic network interruptions can inflict losses exceeding $1.5 million per hour

On top of that, downtime across businesses globally can cost around $5,600 per minute. For example, disruptions in the Red Sea caused about $3.5 billion in economic losses

2. National-Level Cost Examples

A complete internet outage for one day globally could rack up losses of $43 billion, with the U.S. alone estimated to lose $11 billion, and China about $10 billion 

A partial outage in Nigeria cost $593 million over just four days

Somalia’s economy lost around $10 million per day from a cable disruption

3. U.S.-Specific Cost Structure

In the U.S., submarine cable faults and repairs cost between $22 to $90 million annually, with indirect costs of $1.5 to $24 million per repair

Projected Microsoft-Specific Impact

As one of the world’s largest tech companies, Microsoft relies heavily on undersea cables for cloud services, Azure, Office 365, and enterprise connectivity.

If a cable disruption causes even a short-term outage impacting Microsoft’s services:

Hourly Losses

Applying the $1.5 million per hour figure as a baseline, a multi-hour outage could lead to tens of millions in losses—not just for Microsoft, but for its customers.

Daily Losses

Considering the broader economic impact (e.g. $43 billion global loss), Microsoft alone could be absorbing hundreds of millions, particularly across business-critical systems and enterprise disruptions.

Cumulative Multi-Day Damage

A scenario similar to Nigeria’s four-day loss (~$600 million) suggests Microsoft could face comparable or greater multihundred-million-dollar damage, possibly into the billion-dollar range if outages cascade across international services and partners.

Houthi submarine cable attack in 2005 Data Table: Estimated Microsoft Losses in a Submarine Cable Accident

lunar eclipses Introduction

lunar eclipses of people afraid ? Throughout history, celestial events have fascinated and frightened humanity. Among these, the lunar eclipse has often been seen as mysterious and terrifying. When the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon, the once bright lunar surface turns dark red—an awe-inspiring but unsettling sight.

Even today, in many cultures, people still ask: Why are people so afraid of lunar eclipses?

This article explores the myths, cultural traditions, scientific explanations, and psychological reasons behind lunar eclipse fears—while also highlighting the truth that modern science reveals lunar eclipses of people afraid ?

What Is a Lunar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks sunlight from directly reaching the Moon. There are three main types:

Total Lunar Eclipse – The Moon enters the Earth’s darkest shadow (umbra), often turning red, known as a “Blood Moon.”

people afraid of lunar eclipses Although completely natural, the sudden change in the Moon’s appearance historically fueled fear and superstition.

lunar eclipses of people afraid Historical Myths and Cultural Beliefs

1. Ancient Mesopotamia – A Bad Omen

In Babylonian culture, a lunar eclipse was believed to signal danger for the king. To protect him, a temporary substitute king would sometimes be appointed until the threat was believed to have passed.

2. Hindu Beliefs – Rahu and KetuMany people still avoid eating food, drinking water, or going outside during eclipses due to these ancient beliefs.

3. Chinese Legends – The Celestial Dragon

Ancient Chinese folklore described a giant dragon devouring the Moon.4. Indigenous Cultures – Warnings of Change

Some Native American tribes believed lunar eclipses represented an imbalance in nature, signaling big changes or transformations within the community lunar eclipses of people afraid ?

5. Medieval Europe – Fear of Witches and Evil

In medieval Europe, eclipses were often linked to witchcraft, curses, and the wrath of God. Farmers feared crop failures, while rulers feared war or political instability.

Scientific Explanation of Fear

Modern psychology offers insight into eclipse-related fear:

Evolutionary Psychology: Humans are naturally cautious of sudden environmental changes.

Cognitive Bias: If negative events occur near an eclipse, people may falsely connect the two.

Cultural Conditioning: People raised with superstitions often carry unconscious fears, even if they know the science people afraid of lunar eclipses.

lunar eclipses of people afraid Modern Superstitions About

Even with today’s scientific understanding, many superstitions remain alive:

Pregnant Women Should Stay Indoors – Some believe eclipses can harm unborn babies.

No Food or Water During Eclipse – Belief that food gets “poisoned” by lunar rays.Don’t Travel – Travel during an eclipse is thought to invite misfortune.

Spiritual Cleansing – Some cultures see eclipses as a time for prayer, fasting, and meditation lunar eclipses of people afraid ?

While these beliefs have no scientific basis, they highlight how deeply eclipses are tied to human imagination people afraid of lunar eclipses.

Famous Lunar Eclipses That Sparked Fear

Christopher Columbus (1504):
Columbus used knowledge of a lunar eclipse to frighten native Jamaicans, claiming he could make the Moon disappear if they didn’t provide food.

World War I and II:
Soldiers in both wars reported being spooked by Blood Moons, interpreting them as bad omens before battles.

Recent Social Media Trends:
In modern times, some conspiracy theorists connect eclipses with doomsday predictions, sparking unnecessary fear online lunar eclipses of people afraid ?

Positive Perspectives on Lunar Eclipses

Not all cultures viewed lunar eclipses negatively.

Maya Civilization: Saw eclipses as important astronomical events, using them to refine calendars.

Inca Tradition: Rituals honored the Moon goddess Mama Quilla, turning eclipses into sacred ceremonies.

Modern Spirituality: Some people now see lunar eclipses as a chance for reflection, renewal, and transformation.

lunar eclipses of people afraid Science Has Replaced Fear

Thanks to modern astronomy:

We can predict lunar eclipses centuries in advance.

We know they are harmless natural events.

Scientists use eclipses to study Earth’s atmosphere (since the red glow is caused by sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere).

Today, instead of fear, most people watch lunar eclipses with excitement, cameras, and telescopeslunar eclipses of people afraid ?

How to Overcome Fear of Lunar Eclipses

Learn the Science: Understand why eclipses happen.

Watch with Others: Experience the event in groups to replace fear with wonder.

Break Superstitions: Challenge unfounded beliefs by comparing them with facts.Practice Mindfulness: View the eclipse as a unique chance for reflection, not fear.

Encourage Children: Teach kids that eclipses are safe, natural, and beautiful.

FAQs

Q1: Why do lunar eclipses scare people?
Because of sudden changes in the Moon’s appearance, red coloration, and centuries-old myths linking them to disaster.

Q2: Is it harmful to eat during a lunar eclipse?
No. Scientifically, food and water are unaffected by eclipses.

Q3:  Are lunar eclipses bad omens?
No. Lunar eclipses are natural celestial events, not omens of disaster.

Conclusion

The fear of lunar eclipses comes from a mix of ancient myths, cultural beliefs, and human psychology. While science now explains them as harmless, the emotional and cultural weight of eclipses remains strong in many parts of the world.

Instead of fearing them, we should embrace lunar eclipses as awe-inspiring cosmic spectacles—reminders of our place in the vast universe.