US airstrike in Venezuela kills Tren de Aragua gang leader

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military carried out an airstrike inside Venezuela, cooperating with Venezuelan authorities, that killed the leader of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua. The target, identified as Niño Guerrero (Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores), was killed in a strike on a camp in Bolívar state. Trump said on Truth Social, “under my direction, the U.S. Southern Command launched a rapid and lethal kinetic strike, successfully killing the notorious Tren de Aragua head Niño Guerrero.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation and said it demonstrated the joint commitment of the United States and Venezuela to “jointly combat drug‑terrorists.” The strike follows a period of heightened U.S.–Venezuela cooperation after the arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro and the establishment of an interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez. Guerrero, 42, had been indicted in the United States on terrorism, drug‑trafficking and firearms charges and was subject to a $5 million bounty. The operation marks a new phase in the Trump administration’s campaign against Latin‑American gang networks.

The action has been framed by Trump as fulfilling his pledge to eliminate threats to U.S. citizens, citing past cases involving Venezuelan migrants. No official comment has been issued by the Venezuelan government.