US Military Strike Kills Leader of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua Gang

The United States military carried out a rapid kinetic strike that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, the head of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. President Donald Trump announced the operation on his Truth Social platform, saying the strike was conducted with the cooperation of Venezuelan partners. The gang, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization, has been linked to drug trafficking, extortion, murder and other violent crimes across North America, South America and Europe. Guerrero Flores faced charges in a New York federal court for racketeering and supporting terrorism. The U.S. State Department previously offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest. The strike follows a series of U.S. actions targeting narcoterrorist vessels, which have resulted in more than 200 deaths since September. Venezuelan officials have not commented on the operation, while the U.S. continues to portray Tren de Aragua as operating under the influence of President Nicolás Maduro.