U.S. Military Strikes Kill Venezuelan Gang Leader

President Trump shared on Friday that the U.S. military successfully carried out an airstrike that eliminated the leader of the Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragua.

In a post, Trump stated, “At my direction, U.S. Southern Command executed a swift and deadly attack targeting Niño Guerrero, the notorious head of Torren de Aragua, which is one of the most ruthless terrorist groups globally.” He also included a video showcasing the moment a projectile hit a building, leading to a significant explosion in what seemed like a remote location.

The president referred to the airstrike as “retaliation” against the gang for violent crimes, emphasizing that Tren de Aragua was given freedom to act under former President Joe Biden’s administration, allowing them to “rape, injure, and kill American citizens with total impunity.” Trump remarked, “Early in my term, I kept my promise to label Torren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, deport numerous criminals, and combat the cartels that have harmed our citizens for years while previous leaders left America vulnerable.”

He outlined that the airstrikes were coordinated with Venezuelan authorities, claiming that “the terrorists of Torren de Aragua no longer have a safe haven in Venezuela or elsewhere.” He added, “Under my leadership, we will track these murderers and drug traffickers down and ensure they face justice.”

Last February, the Trump administration categorized Torren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist group.

Guerrero, indicted in December, faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to support terrorists and drug trafficking. An earlier statement from U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton indicated that Guerrero was the mastermind behind transitioning the gang from a Venezuelan prison faction to a significant threat involved in various illicit activities across multiple continents.

The State Department had even offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero’s capture.

Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth mentioned that the attack was carried out “earlier this week” and involved full cooperation with Venezuelan security forces. He specified that the strike targeted a building within Torren de Aragua’s territory.

Since last September, the Trump administration has ramped up efforts against suspected gang members, striking vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of over 200 individuals linked to narcotics-related activities.