United States Military Strike in Venezuela Kills Tren de Aragua Leader
A United States military strike conducted in Venezuela has killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, who was identified by the U.S. government as the leader of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization. The operation was announced by President Donald Trump on June 11, 2026.
The Operation
According to U.S. officials, the United States Southern Command conducted a "kinetic strike" on a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela earlier in the week. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Guerrero Flores was confirmed killed during the operation. President Trump stated the strike was carried out "at my direction" and coordinated "closely with our friends in Venezuela."
"This strike was carried out at my direction," President Trump posted on Truth Social.
Venezuela's information ministry reported that during a separate operation in Bolívar state, clashes with criminal groups led to Guerrero Flores being neutralized. The ministry stated the operation involved specialized technological support and intelligence sharing between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities.
Trump posted an unclassified video of a building exploding on his Truth Social platform.
Charged and Wanted
In December, Guerrero Flores was charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and providing support to terrorists, among other crimes. In January 2026, he was named as a co-defendant in an indictment of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. State Department had offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest.
The Tren de Aragua Organization
Tren de Aragua originated over a decade ago at a prison in Venezuela's central state of Aragua. Guerrero Flores returned to that prison in 2013 and, with other inmates, assumed control, transforming it into a facility with a zoo, baseball field, casino, and restaurants.
The organization turned a prison into a compound featuring a zoo, baseball field, casino, and restaurants.
The organization's size is unclear. Countries with large Venezuelan migrant populations have accused the group of involvement in violence, extortion, and drug trafficking across North America, South America, and Europe. According to InSight Crime, the group has no large-scale involvement in smuggling cocaine across international borders. The U.S. State Department designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization.
Guerrero Flores escaped from Tocoron prison in Venezuela in 2023 before a police raid.
Conflicting Claims
The Trump administration has consistently stated that Tren de Aragua operated under the control of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. A declassified U.S. intelligence assessment reportedly contradicted this claim, according to some sources.
The current Venezuelan government has not independently confirmed details of the U.S. strike. Venezuela's ministry of communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment from some news outlets.