With neither side particularly avid for combat, the situation was resolved by the Royalist reinforcement of its attack forces until the Communists faced overwhelming odds.

Operation Maharat II ended on 5 February with an artillery fire base supporting an irregular regiment occupying the road intersection.

[1][2] The new nation was left with a minimal road network, principally oriented toward connecting inland Laos with the Vietnamese coast.

[6] The Royal Lao Army (RLA) general staff launched a two pronged reprisal reminiscent of the original Operation Maharat.

On 12 January, a Raven Forward Air Controller operating beneath an overcast sky, spotted a Communist force moving south on Route 13.

On 20 January, Groupement Mobile 31 (GM 31), a regiment of 1,166 men, was airlifted into action five kilometers southeast of Sala Phou Khoun.

[7] Once Sala Phou Khoun was occupied by GM 31, the two Royalist columns raced toward it to link up, clearing Route 13 as they came.

On 5 February 1973, an artillery fire base manned by Thai mercenaries arrived to back up the GM 203 garrison.