Editing Operation PBSuccess (section)

===Main Offensive====
 (June 18–27, 1954) 
Invasion Launch: On June 18, 1954, Castillo Armas’s rebels crossed from Honduras into Guatemala, advancing in five groups toward Puerto Barrios, Zacapa, and other targets. The force was small and poorly trained, relying on CIA air support and propaganda to amplify its threat.

Air Campaign: CIA planes bombed Guatemala City, military bases, and fuel depots, creating chaos. A notable incident involved a bomb dropped on a British ship, SS Springfjord, mistaken for a Guatemalan target, leading to a $1 million U.S. settlement with the UK.

Psychological Impact: Radio Liberación falsely reported massive rebel advances and defections, eroding Árbenz’s military morale. The CIA spread rumors of a U.S. invasion, terrifying Guatemalan officers, many of whom refused to fight, fearing U.S. retaliation.

Military Collapse: Árbenz’s army, about 5,000 strong, was paralyzed by defections and low morale. Key officers, bribed or intimidated, failed to engage Castillo Armas’s force, which stalled near Zacapa. Peurifoy’s ultimatum to Árbenz, demanding resignation, added pressure.

Árbenz’s Resignation: On June 27, 1954, Árbenz, facing military abandonment and U.S. threats, resigned, delivering a radio address blaming UFCO and U.S. imperialism. He sought asylum in the Mexican embassy, later living in exile in Switzerland, Cuba, and elsewhere.