In brief
In a tweet, President Donald Trump announced that the US Southern Command had carried out an airstrike that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the long‑time leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua. Trump stated the operation was coordinated closely with Venezuelan officials and described the gang as a foreign terrorist organization engaged in "irregular warfare" against the United States. The head of the gang had expanded the organization into several South American countries and was implicated in drug trafficking, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. The U.S. has previously targeted alleged drug smuggling vessels linked to the gang and has questioned the legality of such strikes under international law. The incident follows a broader U.S. strategy to punish drug cartels and criminal groups through kinetic operations in Latin America.
Trump Declares Strike Success
President Donald Trump announced that the United States Southern Command had eliminated Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, in an airstrike. The president tweeted the hit was executed “at my direction” and called it a swift, lethal strike.
Joint Operation With Venezuela
Trump noted cooperation with Venezuelan authorities, describing the operation as a joint effort. Venezuelan officials reported their involvement and called the mission a coordinated strike.
Background of the Gang
Tren de Aragua, once a prison gang, grew under Guerrero into a transnational criminal organization that expanded into Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. The group is known for extorting migrants, drug trafficking, contract killing and kidnapping.
U.S. Prior Operations
Since 2019 the US has targeted boats allegedly linked to the gang, claiming they were used for smuggling drugs into the United States. Critics argue that the strikes may violate international law, as evidence of drug cargo or smugglers is often lacking.
Legal Defence of the Campaign
The Trump administration maintains that the killings are lawful, arguing that the United States is in a formal armed conflict with drug cartels and that the crews of drug-running boats are combatants.
