Internet communications began to return to large parts of the Middle East Sunday after undersea communications cables were cut. Israel was spared damage, but service in Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates was severely affected. A French repair crew is using a robotic submarine to repair the undersea lines, but the cause of the cut is not yet known. Internet providers tried to re-route voice and date traffic.

Last January, a ship anchor cut a cable, causing massive service disruptions in the Middle East.