Tren de Aragua leader killed in U.S. strike in Venezuela

Niño Guerrero, the founder and leader of Tren de Aragua, was killed in a U.S. military strike in Venezuela, according to officials from both countries. It was the first known U.S. military action of its kind inside Venezuela.

The operation happened earlier this week in the southeast of Bolivar state, where U.S. and Venezuelan officials said Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero,” was killed during an operation involving Venezuelan and U.S. security forces.

“At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet Earth,” President Trump said in a social media post on Friday night. “This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the Department of War carried out the strike in full collaboration with Venezuelan security forces. He said Guerrero was killed at a Tren de Aragua compound.

Venezuela said there were clashes with members of those criminal groups during the operation. The government said the operation involved specialized technological support and intelligence-sharing between both countries.

No further details were immediately released about the strike, including whether others were killed or injured.

The strike marks the first known U.S. military action of its kind inside Venezuela. It comes after the U.S. operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Since then, Delcy Rodríguez has served as Venezuela’s acting president and has worked closely with the Trump administration.