# Houthis Reportedly Capture Towns in Lahj in Bid to Encircle Yemeni Government Forces

*Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at 8:06 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-11-11T08:06:13.046Z (50m ago)
**Category**: conflict | **Region**: Middle East
**Importance**: 7/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/23148.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

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**Deck**: Reports say Houthi fighters have seized four towns in Yemen’s Lahj governorate in an offensive aimed at surrounding Presidential Leadership Council forces in the southwest or forcing them to withdraw.

Houthi forces have reportedly opened a new offensive in southern Yemen, advancing through Lahj governorate and seizing several towns in what appears to be an effort to encircle government‑aligned units.

Reports on 11 November say the Houthis have taken control of al‑Shaytan, al‑Sarih, Horib and al‑Fasiya in the past 16 hours. If confirmed, the operation appears designed either to trap Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) forces in a pocket in southwestern Yemen or to compel them to pull back, echoing earlier withdrawals from Mokha and Khawkha on the Red Sea coast. There was no independent confirmation from the PLC in the material reviewed, and casualty figures were not reported.

Lahj lies close to Aden, the de facto seat of the internationally recognized government, and on routes that link southern cities to inland areas. A shift of control in towns like those named can quickly disrupt roads, markets and basic services for surrounding communities.

For PLC units at risk of encirclement, the reported Houthi advance threatens supply lines for food, fuel and ammunition. If the Houthis consolidate their positions, government forces could face the choice of breaking out under fire, negotiating withdrawals or surrendering.

Strategically, confirmed Houthi gains in Lahj would mark a notable extension of their reach toward the south and increase pressure on already divided anti‑Houthi factions. The offensive could also complicate humanitarian access routes that rely on relatively stable corridors in the region.

Signals to watch include official PLC or allied statements acknowledging or disputing the reported town losses, evidence of broader redeployments resembling the pullbacks from Mokha and Khawkha, and Houthi announcements claiming encirclement or the capture of prisoners.