Dubai – Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service has officially launched in Yemen, a country ravaged by civil war, drawing ire from Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The tech billionaire’s satellite internet service, announced on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), marks its entry into Yemen, one of the world’s least developed nations. Starlink’s network of low Earth orbit satellites aims to provide connectivity in remote or war-torn areas where traditional infrastructure has been disrupted.
“Starlink is now available in Yemen!” read the announcement on Wednesday.
Yemen becomes the first country in the Middle East to access this service, which requires a satellite dish and router. According to Starlink’s website, the network will offer high-speed internet across Yemen, including both government-controlled regions and Houthi-held territories, such as the capital Sanaa and parts of the Red Sea coast.
The Houthi communication ministry has condemned the launch, labeling Starlink as “a direct threat to Yemeni national security” and claiming it jeopardizes citizens’ privacy and data security. The ministry’s stance follows previous appeals from rights organizations urging the Houthis to lift internet shutdowns and unblock news sites and social media.
Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti has criticized the Starlink launch, linking it to “the war waged by America on Yemen” and expressing discontent over the US embassy’s congratulatory remarks. The embassy hailed the launch as a milestone demonstrating technology’s potential to drive progress.
The US and UK have been involved in strikes against Houthi targets in response to attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, while the Houthis claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amidst ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government approved Starlink’s introduction last month, despite the country’s severely degraded infrastructure and communications, resulting from years of conflict with the Houthis and a Saudi-led military coalition.
Although fighting has diminished since a UN-brokered truce in 2022, Yemen continues to face one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world, with tens of thousands dead and countless others affected by the ongoing conflict.
