Houthis Reportedly Seize Four Towns in Lahj in Bid to Encircle Southern Yemeni PLC Forces
Houthi forces have reportedly advanced into Yemen’s Lahj governorate, taking four towns within about 16 hours in an offensive aimed at encircling or forcing the withdrawal of Presidential Leadership Council forces in the southwest.
Houthi units have reportedly pushed into Yemen’s Lahj governorate and taken control of several towns in what is described as a fresh offensive against forces aligned with the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC).
Battlefield reporting says that over roughly the last 16 hours, the Houthis have captured the towns of al-Shaytan, al-Sarih, Horib, and al-Fasiya. Independent confirmation of control on the ground remains pending, but the locations cited sit in an area where PLC-aligned formations have been active.
According to these reports, the aim of the operation, if it is confirmed and succeeds, is to encircle PLC troops in southwestern Yemen or to compel a withdrawal similar to the PLC pullback from Mokha and Khawkha on the Red Sea coast.
An encirclement of PLC forces in this region would leave those units with limited routes for resupply or retreat. It would also shift the local balance of power in favor of the Houthis in territory that affects access toward Yemen’s southwest.
For civilians in the affected Lahj localities, Houthi advances bring front lines closer and increase the risk of renewed clashes, restrictions, or displacement, especially if PLC units attempt counter-attacks or begin to withdraw through populated areas.
The reported Houthi push into Lahj fits with a pattern of probing PLC positions and exploiting perceived weaknesses in the coalition of forces opposing them.
Key signs to watch will be independent confirmation of control in al-Shaytan, al-Sarih, Horib, and al-Fasiya, evidence of PLC reinforcements or withdrawals in Lahj, and any related shifts in operations by either side elsewhere in southwestern Yemen.
Sources
- OSINT