Venezuela confirms death of Tren de Aragua leader killed in joint operation

Venezuela has confirmed the death of Hector Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Venezuelan-based criminal organization Tren de Aragua, also known by his alias "Nino Guerrero." The announcement follows a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed U.S. forces killed the crime boss.

The Venezuelan Ministry of Communication and Information stated that Guerrero Flores was "neutralized" during an operation targeting the criminal group in the rural area of Bolivar state. The ministry indicated that the operation involved advanced technology, intelligence sharing, and cooperation between Venezuelan and U.S. authorities. Clashes reportedly occurred with members of the group during the operation.

Trump had announced on his Truth Social account that U.S. Southern Command carried out a "deadly strike" that killed Nino Guerrero. He also shared a video of a building exploding. Trump emphasized that the joint operation with Caracas authorities was crucial. The U.S. Department of Defense stated the strike occurred earlier in the week, targeting Tren de Aragua locations in Venezuela, highlighting a commitment to combating "terrorists in the region" through collaboration with partners like Venezuela and the Anti-Cartel Coalition (A3C).

The National Counterterrorism Center in the U.S. described Tren de Aragua as a transnational syndicate originating from Venezuela's Tocoron prison, with an estimated 2,500 to 5,000 members involved in cross-border crimes including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling. The Trump administration had labeled the group a terrorist syndicate in February 2025 and offered a $5 million reward for Guerrero Flores's capture. Washington had previously claimed the group operated under the protection of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.