Houthis Claim Capture of Jabal Han Overlooking Taiz From Saudi‑Backed Forces
Ansarallah fighters say they have taken Jabal Han west of Taiz from Saudi‑backed Presidential Leadership Council forces, using tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, mortars and heavy machine guns in raids on the mountain positions.
Ansarallah forces in Yemen say they have taken control of Jabal Han, a key height west of Taiz, from Saudi‑backed fighters, tightening their hold on ground overlooking the besieged city.
Houthi units claimed on 20 October to have captured Jabal Han, or Han Mountain, from forces loyal to the internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council (PLC). Houthi‑linked outlets and regional observers shared footage that shows fighters on the summit and PLC troops retreating, indicating a shift in control at this position.
Earlier reporting from the same axis described Ansarallah raiding PLC positions in the Taiz sector with a mix of armor and support weapons. The group was seen using T‑55(AM) main battle tanks, BMP‑2 infantry fighting vehicles armed with 30mm 2A42 cannons, 120mm M75 mortars firing Iranian M48 high‑explosive bombs, 82mm B‑10 recoilless guns, ZU‑23‑2 autocannons, NSV heavy machine guns and PKM machine guns.
Taiz remains under siege, with restricted movement in and out of the city. Control of Jabal Han directly overlooking Taiz gives the side holding it a commanding view of nearby roads, supply routes and neighborhoods. The loss of the mountain by PLC forces complicates their defensive planning west of the city and exposes their positions to observation and potential fire from above.
For PLC fighters, withdrawal from Jabal Han means supply routes toward front‑line outposts around Taiz are now more vulnerable. Convoys may be forced onto longer or less secure paths, and defensive lines will need to adjust to the Houthis’ new vantage point.
The timing of the reported gain comes as regional figures debate broader security arrangements in the Gulf. Turkish political scientist Betül Doğan Akkaş has argued that Turkish and Pakistani politicians are uncomfortable with regional insecurity and are working with Saudi Arabia on a shared security understanding. She has said the Houthis’ drone and missile capabilities have gone beyond what Iran initially provided, suggesting possible additional outside support, and has linked these concerns to the emerging Mecca Pact between Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s foreign ministry has warned against further external military intervention in Yemen. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said security and stability in the Arabian Peninsula are important for all regional countries, but argued that extra intervention would only make the situation more complicated and that Yemen should be resolved through dialogue.
The United Kingdom, for its part, has announced it will deploy Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets on defensive missions over Saudi Arabia to protect cities and critical infrastructure from Houthi aerial attacks.
The key indicators now will be whether PLC units attempt a counterattack on Jabal Han, whether shelling patterns around Taiz change in response to the new front line, and how Saudi and allied air operations adjust to the Houthis’ position on the mountain.
Sources
- OSINT