South Yemen civil war

South Yemen civil war
Part of the Arab Cold War
Map of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) in red
Date 13 – 24 January 1986 (1 week and 4 days) Location South Yemen Result al-Toghmah faction victory Defeat of Ali Nasir Muhammad's faction and their exile to North Yemen Death of Abdul Fattah Ismail, Ali Antar, Saleh Moslih, and Ali Shayi' Assumption of power by Ali Salem al Beidh and Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas Yemeni unification in 1990
Belligerents
Abdul Fattah Ismail's faction, al-Toghmah	Ali Nasir Muhammad's faction, al-Zomrah
Commanders and leaders
Abdul Fattah Ismail (MIA) Former President Ali Antar † Vice President Saleh Muslih Qassem † Defense Minister Haidar Abu Bakr al-Attas Prime Minister Ali Salem al Beidh YSP Politburo member Dhale and Lahij Mobilized tribal militias	Ali Nasir Muhammad President Shabwah and Abyan Mobilized tribal militias
Casualties and losses
4,000 – 6,000 dead[1] 60,000 refugees

The South Yemen civil war, colloquially referred to in Yemen as the events of '86, the events of January 13, or simply as the events, was a failed coup d'etat and brief civil war which took place on January 13, 1986, in South Yemen. The civil war developed as a result of ideological differences, and later tribal tensions, between two factions of the ruling Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), centred on Abdul Fattah Ismail's faction, at-Toghmah, and Ali Nasir Muhammad's faction, az-Zomrah, for the leadership of the YSP and South Yemen. The conflict quickly escalated into a costly civil war that lasted eleven days and resulted in thousands of casualties. Additionally, the conflict resulted in the demise of much of the Yemeni Socialist Party's most experienced socialist leadership cadre, contributing to a much weaker government and the country's eventual unification with North Yemen in 1990.