Before Moroni could move against the Lamanite positions, however, the Lamanites launched a surprise attack against Nephihah. The Lamanites fleeing from the Nephite-occupied Manti traveled down the Sidon Valley (v. 6). At some point, they encountered another Lamanite force and jointly attacked Nephihah, which protected the lower end of the Sidon valley. With Nephihah in Lamanite possession, the Nephite armies who were already fighting a two-front war now had a Lamanite stronghold between them. Even more importantly, Nephihah was in a position to impede the Nephite armies from aiding Zarahemla, if needed, upstream on the Sidon.