U.S. Southern Command said a "swift and lethal kinetic strike" killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, President Trump announced on Truth Social. Officials have not disclosed the strike location, casualty numbers, or which U.S. units took part. The operation appears to be the first publicly reported U.S. military action inside Venezuela since the Jan. 3 operation that the U.S. says resulted in Nicolás Maduro's capture. Tren de Aragua was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. in early 2025, and Guerrero Flores was indicted by the Justice Department in December.
Top Tren de Aragua Leader Killed in U.S. Strike in Venezuela, Trump Says
A building allegedly housing Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores as it explodes.
U.S. Southern Command said it carried out a "swift and lethal kinetic strike" that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores — known as Niño Guerrero — the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, President Donald Trump announced Friday on Truth Social.
Trump did not specify the strike location or explain how Guerrero Flores was located. Video he shared showed aerial footage of a building being struck and destroyed. SOUTHCOM referred questions about the operation to the White House, which had not immediately responded to requests for comment, and Venezuelan authorities had not issued a public statement at the time of reporting.
Who Was Guerrero Flores and What Is Tren de Aragua?
Tren de Aragua began inside Venezuelan prisons and grew into a transnational criminal organization. Analysts describe it as one of Venezuela's most powerful homegrown gangs, with activities that have expanded beyond the country's borders. Venezuelan forces attacked the gang's prison stronghold in 2023, though senior leaders reportedly escaped.
Designation and Legal Action
The U.S. government designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization in early 2025. In December, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Guerrero Flores on charges alleging support for terrorist actions.
Outstanding Questions and Regional Context
Officials have not disclosed casualty figures, which U.S. units participated, or the exact location of the strike. The operation appears to be the first U.S.-announced military action inside Venezuela since Operation Absolute Resolve on Jan. 3 — an operation the U.S. has said resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Since January, the United States has maintained an enhanced military presence in the Caribbean and continued strikes against vessels the U.S. says were transporting drugs; U.S. officials say those operations have resulted in more than 200 deaths.
Separately, in March U.S. forces working with Ecuador carried out airstrikes against Comandos de la Frontera, a drug-trafficking group near the Colombia border, reflecting broader regional operations this year.
Official Statement: President Trump said the strike "was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well." SOUTHCOM confirmed it conducted the strike and directed follow-up questions to the White House.
We will update this story as additional details and official responses become available.
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