US kills Niño Guerrero, elusive leader of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, in airstrike

The United States has announced the killing of Niño Guerrero, the notorious leader of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua criminal organization, in a recent airstrike. President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday, June 12, 2026, that U.S. Southern Command conducted a "swift and lethal kinetic strike" that successfully targeted Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores. The operation was carried out in Venezuela's southern Bolívar state against a Tren de Aragua compound.

This significant action was reportedly coordinated closely with the Venezuelan government, marking a notable shift in the relationship between the two nations. U.S. officials described Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal enterprise and a "bloodthirsty terrorist organization," responsible for various illicit activities across the Americas, including drug and human trafficking.

The strike comes months after American forces reportedly removed former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, with the U.S. government subsequently seeking closer ties and cooperation with Venezuela's current leadership.