Trump Announces Lethal Strike on Tren de Aragua Gang Leader
Quick Look
- President Trump announced a lethal strike, conducted by U.S.
- Southern Command, targeting Hector "Niño Guerrero" Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, leader of the Tren de Aragua gang.
- Trump stated the action was coordinated with Venezuela and aimed to eliminate the gang's safe haven.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
President Trump announced a lethal strike on the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, coordinated with Venezuela. The U.S. had previously charged the gang leader with terrorism-related offenses.
On Friday night, as all eyes were on two major U.S. sporting moments — the men’s national team kicking off its World Cup opener with Paraguay, and the fighters arriving in Washington for this weekend’s UFC fight at the White House — President Donald Trump shared a video of a lethal strike on Tren de Aragua gang leader Hector “Niño Guerrero” Rusthenford Guerrero Flores.
“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,” the president wrote on Truth Social, sharing a video of an aerial strike that blew a low-lying building to smithereens.
The president did not specify exactly where or when the attack took place.
“This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well,” Trump added. “As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drugs lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong.”
The Independent has contacted U.S. Southern Command for further information on the strike.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Los Angeles watching the World Cup match when President Trump announced the strike, according to the Trump administration.
The U.S. had previously charged the gang leader with providing material support to terrorism and directing a criminal enterprise, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which previously named Niño Guerrero to its most wanted list.
The strike may be the most significant in the U.S. military’s Venezuela campaign since American commandos deposed and captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January and took him to the U.S. to face drug charges.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further actions against Tren de Aragua members and leadership.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Where and when exactly did the strike take place?
- What specific intelligence led to the strike?
