Venezuela and US confirm joint strike kills Tren de Aragua leader
The two governments announced the death of the gang’s leader in a coordinated military action, marking a significant escalation in bilateral security cooperation despite historical tensions.
Venezuela and the United States announced on Friday that Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Tren de Aragua transnational criminal gang, was killed during a joint military operation in the southeastern state of Bolivar. The confirmation from both governments follows a strike described by US President Donald Trump as a “swift and lethal kinetic” action against the organisation, which Washington has designated as a terrorist entity.
The operation targeted a compound associated with Guerrero Flores, who faced racketeering and drug charges in a New York federal court. The US State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on social media that the strike occurred earlier in the week, underscoring what he termed a shared commitment between the two nations to deny safe havens to narco-terrorists in the hemisphere.
Venezuela’s government, led by acting President Delcy Rodriguez, confirmed its participation in the assault. In a statement, officials reported that clashes occurred with members of criminal groups during the operation, resulting in Guerrero Flores’ death. The strike took place in Bolivar, a mineral-rich region bordering Brazil and Guyana that has long been the site of large-scale illegal mining operations often controlled by gangs with the consent of local officials and military personnel.
The announcement coincides with significant personnel changes within the US administration. President Trump nominated US Attorney Jay Clayton to be the director of national intelligence on Thursday. Clayton had previously characterised Tren de Aragua as responsible for widespread violence, extortion, and drug trafficking across North America, South America, and Europe. Trump’s social media post regarding the strike included unclassified video footage showing a small building with a green roof exploding.
This joint action occurs against a backdrop of intensified US military activity in the region. Since early September, the Trump administration has targeted individuals it designates as “narco-terrorists” in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, resulting in at least 207 deaths in boat strikes. The operation in Bolivar follows months of US allegations linking the gang to violence in American cities, claims that have previously been contradicted by declassified intelligence assessments regarding the group’s relationship with the Maduro administration.
