Trump says U.S. military strike killed leader of Tren de Aragua gang with help from Venezuela
President Donald Trump announced that a U.S. military strike in Venezuela killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang. The operation was framed as a joint effort to combat narco-terrorism in the region.
Why it matters
This represents a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy and military intervention against transnational criminal organizations.
President Donald Trump said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that a “swift and lethal kinetic” U.S. strike had killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he called “the infamous leader” of the Tren de Aragua gang.
The article reports on the administration's claims and actions while noting the lack of immediate response from the Venezuelan government.
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