In January, as political tensions simmered in South Yemen, the city of Aden became a flashpoint for violence between rival factions of the Yemeni Socialist Party. Supporters of the exiled leader Ali Nasir Muhammad, who had previously been ousted, engaged in violent confrontations with loyalists of Abdul Fattah Ismail, the then-president. The struggle, which began on the 13th, quickly devolved into brutal street warfare characterized by gun battles and significant unrest. With both sides armed and determined, the conflict left the city engulfed in chaos as each group attempted to assert its dominance in a deeply fractured political landscape.

The combatants utilized various military tactics, turning urban areas into battlegrounds. Civilians found themselves caught in the crossfire as neighborhoods became polarized between the two factions. The violence led to widespread casualties, with estimates suggesting thousands lost their lives or were injured during this month-long struggle. It highlighted the fragility of the political situation in South Yemen, which had been shaped by decades of ideological divisions rooted in communism and nationalism.

The aftermath of this conflict saw a deepening rift within the ruling party, leading to further instability in the region. This violent power struggle in Aden not only marked a turning point in South Yemen's political history but also set the stage for future conflicts and the eventual unification with North Yemen in the following years, which would culminate in its own uncertainties and challenges.