Houthi Offensive in Lahj Repelled by Giants Brigades and Al-Subaiha Tribes

The Giants Brigades, supported by Al-Subaiha tribal fighters, successfully repelled a significant offensive and encirclement attempt by Houthi militia forces in the northwestern frontlines of Lahj Governorate on Tuesday.

Field sources reported that heavy clashes erupted in the Al-Aghbarah, Al-Mansoura, and Al-Mahawala sectors, situated approximately 30 miles east of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Houthi militia launched the assault using extensive military reinforcements, intense artillery bombardment, and dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles, attempting to breach government-held lines from the strategic Hawab and Naman mountains.

The Houthi maneuver included infiltration attempts toward the Al-Ruweis and Malbiya areas within the Al-Madaribah and Ras Al-Ara district. According to military analysts, the militia’s objective was to execute a flanking maneuver to bypass government forces advancing toward Bab al-Mandab and Dhubab, intending to encircle positions held by the Giants Brigades and the Dera al-Watan forces. Defensive units successfully halted the advance, though some units executed tactical withdrawals to avoid entrapment and minimize personnel casualties.

In a related engagement, Al-Subaiha tribal fighters neutralized three Houthi militants in an ambush near the Al-Mansoura pass, seizing a military vehicle and heavy weaponry. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly as Houthi ballistic missile and artillery strikes targeted civilian infrastructure, including the Ahmed bin Hanbal school in Al-Madaribah and Ras Al-Ara. A missile also struck the Al-Ka'lala area, though it failed to detonate.

The sustained aerial and artillery bombardment has triggered a mass exodus of thousands of families from the villages of Al-Ruweis, Malbiya, Al-Aghbarah, Al-Ka'lala, Al-Mahawala, and Al-Arkama. Human rights monitors report that displaced families are facing dire conditions, with many forced to seek shelter under trees, lacking basic necessities and adequate housing.

In response to the escalation, three airstrikes targeted Houthi military positions and reinforcements in the Malbiya area. Field commanders have emphasized the urgent need for additional military support, including modern artillery, anti-tank guided missiles, and consistent air cover, to maintain defensive lines and prevent further Houthi incursions toward the strategic maritime corridors overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait.