Trump: U.S. Airstrike Kills Venezuelan Gang Leader

Central Message

(Central News Agency, Washington, 12th -综合外电报道) Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced today that U.S. military forces conducted an airstrike killing Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Venezuelan gang 'Tren de Aragua'.

According to Reuters and AFP, Guerrero is also known as 'Niño Guerrero'. Trump posted on his social media platform 'Truth Social': 'Under my direction, U.S. Southern Command swiftly executed a lethal kinetic strike, successfully eliminating the notorious leader of Tren de Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organizations on Earth.'

Trump added, 'This operation was closely coordinated with our friends in Venezuela, and our cooperation with them has been very smooth.' He appears to be referring to the government of Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez.

Trump did not specify when the airstrike occurred. However, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth posted on X that the strike took place earlier this week, and Guerrero 'has been confirmed killed in the airstrike'.

Venezuela's Ministry of Information did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Trump administration has previously imposed sanctions on Guerrero and other 'Tren de Aragua' leaders, accusing them of involvement in illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking, and money laundering. The U.S. State Department has designated 'Tren de Aragua' as a foreign terrorist organization.

Trump previously claimed that 'Tren de Aragua' coordinated activities in the United States with the government of then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration also deported some immigrants in the U.S. to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador on suspicion of colluding with the gang. (Compiled by: Lu Ying-zi) 1150613