U.S. Military Strikes Alleged Leader of Torren de Aragua

President Trump declared on Friday that the U.S. military successfully eliminated the supposed leader of the infamous terrorist group Torren de Aragua.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared that U.S. Southern Command carried out a “rapid and deadly kinetic attack,” targeting Hector Rustenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero. He noted that this operation was conducted in close partnership with the Venezuelan government, indicating significant changes following the arrest of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Trump stated, “At my direction, U.S. Southern Command conducted a swift and deadly kinetic attack that successfully executed Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Torren de Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organizations on the planet.” He also expressed concerns over the open southern border under the Biden administration, claiming it has allowed criminals to harm American citizens. He pledged to remove these threats from the country and seek justice for the victims, including young individuals like 12-year-old Jocelyn and 22-year-old Laken Riley.

The airstrike took place just days before the announcement, as Army Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored the commitment of the United States and Venezuela in tackling narco-terrorism and denying these groups safe haven.

Hegseth elaborated, “In full cooperation with Venezuelan security forces, we carried out a kinetic attack on the Torren de Aragua (TdA) facility in Venezuela. It has been confirmed that TdA’s founder and leader, Hector Rustenford Guerrero Flores, was killed during the attack.”

Additionally, Trump’s social media posts featured footage of what seemed to be a projectile hitting a building and igniting.

The U.S. Southern Command labeled Guerrero-Flores as a “wanted fugitive.” He faced charges of extortion, conspiracy to assist terrorists, and drug-related crimes in an indictment from 2025. The State Department offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture.

The charges allege that Guerrero-Flores ran a criminal syndicate involving drug and human trafficking, extorted residents, and committed violent acts. He reportedly managed escape operations from Tokoron prison by enticing gang members out and charging fees.

Reports indicate Guerrero Flores lived lavishly while incarcerated.

The airstrike coincides with recent events, occurring five months after the arrest of Maduro on drug trafficking charges. Guerrero Flores was noted as a co-conspirator in that indictment.

In January 2025, on his first day back in office, Trump designated Torren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization. Ties have been established between the group and the individuals involved in the murders of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray.