As of 1:00 PM PST on January 3, 2026, reports indicate that while there was immediate armed resistance during the U.S. operation, the current situation has shifted from direct combat to internal mobilization and sporadic violence.
Because U.S. ground forces (Delta Force) extracted President Maduro and withdrew after an operation lasting approximately two hours, there is currently no large-scale U.S. occupation force on the ground for Venezuelan military units to engage in conventional battle.
1. Resistance During the Operation (Early Morning Jan 3)
The initial U.S. assault met with what President Trump described as "considerable opposition," resulting in actual combat rather than a walkover.
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U.S. Casualties: Multiple U.S. service members suffered gunshot wounds and other non-life-threatening injuries, confirming they engaged in firefights with Venezuelan defenders.
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Venezuelan Casualties: Vice President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that "some Venezuelan civilians and members of the military were killed," though specific numbers remain unverified.
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Anti-Air Fire: Witnesses and video footage from Caracas and coastal cities showed "tracer fire" lighting up the night sky, indicating Venezuelan forces attempted to engage U.S. aircraft and helicopters with anti-aircraft fire.
2. Current Status of Armed Resistance (Afternoon Jan 3)
With U.S. ground troops gone, "resistance" has morphed into mobilization for internal control and preparation for a potential full-scale invasion.
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Mobilization of "Colectivos": The most active armed elements currently are the colectivos—armed, pro-government paramilitary groups. Reports indicate they have "taken over" several strongholds in western Caracas. There are fears they are now "hunting for traitors" or enforcing order rather than fighting Americans.
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Guerrilla Call to Arms: Vice President Rodríguez has publicly called on "all guerrillas to take arms," signaling a shift toward irregular warfare. This is consistent with Venezuela's "War of All the People" doctrine, which relies on asymmetric resistance rather than conventional defense.
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Military Deployment: Defense Minister Padrino López announced a nationwide deployment of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB). Witness reports confirm Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets were scrambled from Maracay airbase, though it is unclear if they are patrolling or seeking targets.
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Internal Crackdown: The primary violence reported now is internal. Police are guarding supermarkets to prevent looting, and there are rumors of regime forces targeting opposition supporters who might view the U.S. strike as liberation.
3. Strategic Context
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"Running the Country": despite President Trump's claim that the U.S. will "run the country," there is no evidence yet of a U.S. governing authority on Venezuelan soil. Control appears to be exerted remotely through air and naval dominance (the "largest Armada ever assembled" is off the coast).
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Power Vacuum: A dangerous power struggle is emerging. While the military command has pledged loyalty to the regime, the physical removal of Maduro has left a vacuum that armed non-state actors (colectivos) and different military factions are scrambling to fill.
Summary: The "war" is currently in a tense standoff phase. The U.S. decapitated the leadership and left; the "resistance" is now fully mobilized, armed, and controlling the streets, but they currently have no American ground targets to fight.
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