[3][4][5] The rebel forces seized the border town of Villa Quesada on 12 January.

[6] Jose Figueres accused the CIA of covertly aiding Nicaragua's invasion by sending pilots and sorties to covertly attack Costa Rica, notably subjecting at least 11 villages to machine gun fire.

[7] The Costa Rican government appealed to the Organization of American States to investigate.

The United States sold Costa Rica four fighter planes, while the rebels were overwhelmed by the popularly backed government forces.

After some fierce fighting in a handful of northern towns, the rebels were pushed out of Costa Rica.