January 13 massacre

Politburo Meeting Massacre (1986)
Part of South Yemeni crisis
LocationCentral Committee Building, Tawahi, Aden, People's Democratic Republic of Yemen
Date13 January 1986
Approximately 10:20 AM
TargetAl-Tughma faction leaders within the Yemeni Socialist Party, including Abdul Fattah Ismail, Ali Salem al-Beidh, Ali Antar, Salih Muslih Qasim, and Ali Shayi' Hadi
Attack type
Political assassination, mass shooting
WeaponsAutomatic weapons (Kalashnikov, Škorpion)
DeathsAli Antar
Salih Muslih Qasim
Ali Shayi' Hadi
Abdul Fattah Ismail (disappeared and later confirmed killed)
PerpetratorsPresidential guards of Ali Nasir Muhammad

The January 13 massacre was a massacre that took place on the morning of 13 January 1986, in the Central Committee meeting hall of the Yemeni Socialist Party in Aden, South Yemen. The massacre led to the death of Vice President Ali Antar, Defense Minister Saleh Muslih Qasim, and others, while former President Abdul Fattah Ismail disappeared before his death was later confirmed. This incident led to the outbreak of the South Yemeni crisis.