US Military Strike Kills Tren de Aragua Leader Niño Guerrero, Trump Confirms

The United States carried out a military strike that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as Niño Guerrero, the leader of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, President Donald Trump said on Friday. He stated that U.S. Southern Command executed a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” under his direct order. Trump also described the group as one of the most violent criminal organizations in the world.

Pentagon and Venezuela confirm operation details

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth confirmed on X that Guerrero was killed during the operation, which took place earlier this week. Venezuela’s information ministry also confirmed clashes during the mission, saying the gang leader was neutralized. Officials added that the operation involved intelligence sharing and technical support between both sides, though full details of the strike location were not released.

Tren de Aragua started inside Tocorón prison in Venezuela and later expanded across Latin America. The group has been linked to drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and contract killings. The United States has already designated it as a foreign terrorist organization. Guerrero escaped from Tocorón prison in 2023 during a security raid.