US military killed leader of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang in strike, Trump says

The United States military has successfully eliminated Niño Guerrero, the leader of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, through a targeted airstrike. President Donald Trump announced the operation on social media, stating that it was carried out under his directive by the U.S. Southern Command. The strike was described as a "swift and lethal kinetic strike" that successfully executed Guerrero, whose full name is Hector Guerrero Flores.

Tren de Aragua is recognized as one of the most significant and dangerous criminal organizations in Latin America. The Trump administration had previously declared the gang a foreign terrorist organization, placing it in the same category as groups like the Islamic State. The U.S. State Department had offered millions of dollars in rewards for information leading to Guerrero's arrest.

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At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero.

President Trump shared footage appearing to show the airstrike, depicting a green building and a nearby shed being destroyed. He indicated that the operation was coordinated closely with Venezuelan authorities, with whom the U.S. is reportedly collaborating effectively. Tren de Aragua originated as a prison gang, but under Guerrero's leadership, it transformed into a transnational criminal organization, engaging in various illicit activities across the region.

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irregular warfare