US Military 'Invited' to Join Operation Killing Venezuelan Gang Leader, Says War Secretary

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed that American military personnel were involved in the operation resulting in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as Niño Guerrero, the leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua. Hegseth asserted that U.S. forces participated because they received an invitation from Venezuelan authorities, describing it as a "huge" development and a sign of a strong partnership.

"In partnership with the Venezuelan government, they invited our military in because they had a foreign terrorist organization on their soil in Tren de Aragua," Hegseth stated in an interview with CBS News. He emphasized the positive security cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuela under this new relationship, suggesting it allows for closer collaboration on security matters.

Hegseth drew parallels between this operation and the U.S. counter-terrorism efforts against groups such as Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. He explained that Washington applies the same operational criteria to designated foreign terrorist organizations, including criminal cartels. "We were able to identify where he was and KILL HIM, just like we would kill Al-Qaeda or ISIS," Hegseth declared, referring to the strike in Bolívar state.

The Secretary of War linked the operation's success to the improved relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela, fostered by President Donald Trump's engagement with the country. He indicated that the U.S. strategy will continue to focus on dismantling criminal structures involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, and extortion across the continent.

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In partnership with the Venezuelan government, they invited our military in because they had a foreign terrorist organization on their soil in Tren de Aragua...The founder and leader, we were able to identify where he was and KILL HIM, just like we would kill Al-Qaeda or ISIS. We treat these foreign terrorist organizations the same way.