A building with a green roof in southeastern Venezuela was destroyed by a large explosion. The United States Southern Command carried out a strike that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the main leader of the Tren de Aragua gang. President Donald Trump announced the military action, stating it was ordered by him. This strike shows a significant increase in US efforts to stop international gangs. It was a joint operation between US forces and Venezuelan security services, who provided technical help and shared information. The CIA also provided intelligence support.
Guerrero Flores, 43, was wanted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the State Department had offered a $5 million reward for information about him. He was indicted in New York in late 2025 on charges including racketeering conspiracy. Tren de Aragua started in the Tocorón Penitentiary in Venezuela around 2010. Guerrero Flores built his criminal organization from inside the prison, which had been modified with a zoo and a pool. The gang expanded across South America, North America, and Europe as Venezuelans left their country. The US government officially declared Tren de Aragua a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation and indicated that more military actions are planned. These will be part of a new security agreement called the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), which combines US military and intelligence with other countries in the region. Hegseth compared the operation to counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East. The strike happened after US forces removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges in New York. The current Venezuelan government, led by Delcy Rodriguez, has cooperated with the US, leading to joint operations like this one.