US strike kills Tren de Aragua leader in southern Venezuela

The United States and the Venezuelan government announced a coordinated military operation in southern Venezuela that killed Nínio Guerrero, the head of the criminal group Tren de Aragua. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. Southern Command delivered a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” to eliminate “one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organizations on planet Earth.” Venezuelan officials said the strike dismantled organized‑crime structures in the region, noting clashes with gang members during the operation.

Tren de Aragua, designated a terrorist organization by the United States, has been linked to human‑trafficking, drug smuggling and violent crimes across several Latin American countries. The U.S. had previously offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Guerrero’s capture.