US Strike Eliminates Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua Gang Leader, Trump Claims
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that US forces carried out a lethal strike killing Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero,” the leader of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua.
“At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Nino Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on this Planet,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He said the action was coordinated with Venezuelan authorities.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike was conducted earlier this week and that Guerrero “was confirmed killed during the strike.”
Venezuela’s information ministry said clashes occurred with criminal group members during the operation, resulting in Guerrero’s neutralization. The ministry noted the operation involved technological support and intelligence‑sharing between both countries.
The Trump administration had sanctioned Guerrero and other Tren de Aragua leaders over drug smuggling, human trafficking, and money laundering. The State Department has designated the gang a foreign terrorist organization. Trump has claimed the group coordinated with Venezuela’s government under President Nicolás Maduro.
Guerrero escaped from Tocorón prison in 2023 just before a police raid. Tren de Aragua is known for controlling migrant routes, extortion, kidnapping, contract killings, and organized theft across Latin America.
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