The Yemeni government is holding back repairs on a key internet cable that’s been damaged in the Red Sea as it conducts a criminal investigation into the cable owners’ alleged ties to the Houthi militia.

The Iran-backed Houthis, designated as a terrorist organization by the US and its allies, control much of Yemen’s telecommunications infrastructure, including a branch of the country’s only international carrier, TeleYemen. 

TeleYemen is part of a consortium of operators that owns the damaged AAE-1 cable, a 25,000-kilometer (15,534-mile) system that connects Europe to Southeast Asia.

These companies are being probed for their association with TeleYemen and potential material support to a designated terrorist group. While the investigation continues, the Yemeni government has not granted permission for repairs to start within its territory. Cable operators need government permits to make repairs in Yemeni waters. This situation highlights the vulnerability of a system critical for connecting Europe’s internet infrastructure to Asia’s.