In the early years of the war, violent right-wing repression had driven many popular organizations and unionists underground into the mountains. Fourteen families still controlled most of the arable land. Although death squad killings had diminished in the capital city, the war raged in the countryside and urban repression became more selective by targetting specific popular leaders. The Army replaced the National Guard as the fighting force in the U.S.-backed war against the FMLN rebel forces of El Salvador.