US announces killing of top Tren de Aragua leader in joint Venezuela operation

A top leader of the Tren de Aragua, a cartel designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, has been killed in a U.S. military operation. President Donald Trump announced the death of Hector Rustenford Gverero Flores, also known as "Ninho Guerrero," stating it was the result of a "swift and lethal kinetic strike."

Trump revealed on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the operation was "tightly coordinated with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well." U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset confirmed the strike, which occurred earlier this week in collaboration with Venezuelan security forces. General Francis Donovan, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, expressed gratitude to the Venezuelan security forces for their support in the successful joint operation against the Tren de Aragua base.

In December, U.S. prosecutors charged Gverero Flores with ordering, directing, and enabling terrorist activities within the United States. He was described by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton as the "mastermind" behind Tren de Aragua's transformation from a Venezuelan prison gang into a transnational terrorist organization. The U.S. government had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Gverero Flores's brother was arrested in Spain in March 2024 on suspicion of terrorism, human trafficking, arms trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and criminal association. His arrest led to Spain identifying and dismantling the organization's first suspected cell in the country. The killing represents a significant blow to the Tren de Aragua organization.