US‑Venezuela joint strike eliminates Tren de Aragua leader Niño Guerrero

The United States and Venezuela carried out a coordinated operation in the southeast of Bolívar state that resulted in the death of Niño Guerrero, the head of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. The strike was conducted by the U.S. Southern Command with technological support and intelligence sharing from Venezuelan authorities, as confirmed by a joint statement from the Venezuelan government. Guerrero had been listed by U.S. prosecutors for drug trafficking, extortion, arms smuggling and other crimes, and a $5 million reward was offered for information leading to his capture.

The operation follows the Trump administration’s designation of the Tren de Aragua as a terrorist group and reflects a rare instance of direct military cooperation between Washington and Caracas. Venezuelan officials said Guerrero was “neutralized” during a confrontation with armed groups, while the White House and Pentagon declined immediate comment.