WASHINGTON, D.C. June 12, 2026 — President Donald Trump announced today that U.S. Southern Command forces carried out a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” that eliminated Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as Niño Guerrero, the notorious leader of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
In a statement shared via the White House Rapid Response account and his own channels, Trump described the operation as a direct fulfillment of campaign promises to combat criminal networks that infiltrated the U.S. southern border.
“At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organizations on Planet Earth,” Trump said.
The president linked the action to justice for American victims, naming 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray and 22-year-old Laken Riley, among others allegedly killed by TdA members. He emphasized coordination with Venezuelan authorities and noted that the group no longer enjoys safe havens.
Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero” or “El Cejón,” rose from controlling the Tocorón prison in Venezuela to leading TdA’s expansion into a transnational criminal network involved in drug trafficking, extortion, human smuggling, kidnappings, and violence across the Americas and Europe.
The U.S. government had previously indicted him on racketeering, terrorism, and drug conspiracy charges, offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. TdA was formally designated a foreign terrorist organization early in Trump’s second term.
Unclassified aerial footage released with the announcement shows a targeted building struck from above, followed by a massive explosion and rising smoke plume. The operation aligns with prior U.S. actions against alleged TdA-linked drug vessels in the Caribbean.
No immediate independent confirmation of the strike’s details has been released by the Pentagon or Venezuelan officials, though the announcement has sparked widespread reactions online, from celebration among supporters of strict border policies to calls for further verification.
The strike fits into the Trump administration’s broader campaign against TdA and related narco-networks, including boat interdictions, mass deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, and sanctions. Officials have portrayed TdA as a hybrid threat blending criminal enterprise with elements aligned to destabilizing activities.
This marks a significant escalation in direct action against high-level leadership of the group.
The White House has not yet provided additional operational details, citing security concerns. Further updates are expected as the story develops.
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