The Iran-backed Houthis have imposed a suffocating military siege on Khabza village in Al-Qarashiyah district, Al-Bayda province (mid-south of Yemen), which is under their control, according to local sources.
This comes after days of deploying massive military reinforcements, including armored vehicles and dozens of combat trucks, tightening their grip around the village,
The sources reported that the Houthis initially claimed their assault aimed to "pass through to other areas." However, once their forces reached the outskirts of the village, they imposed a strict siege, sparking fears among residents of renewed escalation, particularly given the area’s history of confrontations.
The Houthis sent large military reinforcements to encircle the village, despite ongoing tribal mediation efforts to contain tensions.
The latest Houthi action mirrors previous incursions into nearby areas, such as Hankat Al-Masoud, where they expanded military operations to include several villages, including Khabza and Hama Sarar.
In Khabza, the group attempted negotiations with residents to avoid confrontation, but later surprised them by imposing a military siege after deploying reinforcements.
These developments recall the violent clashes in Khabza in 2014 and 2022, when the Houthis committed grave crimes and violations against the village’s inhabitants.