The United States has carried out a targeted military strike that killed the leader of the Tren de Aragua criminal organisation, President Donald Trump announced.
Trump described the operation as a “swift and lethal” attack conducted by US military forces, which reportedly eliminated Nino Guerrero, the head of the Venezuela-founded transnational gang.
He said the strike was coordinated with Venezuelan authorities and aimed at dismantling what he called one of the most dangerous criminal networks operating across the region.
The US President also claimed that the group would no longer find safe haven in Venezuela or elsewhere following the operation, though the exact location of the strike was not disclosed.
A video shared on Trump’s social media platform showed an aerial view of a building before it was hit by an explosion, though no individuals were clearly visible in the footage.
Tren de Aragua has previously been designated as a terrorist organisation by US authorities due to its alleged involvement in drug trafficking, human smuggling and violent crime across several Latin American countries.
The latest strike is expected to further heighten geopolitical tensions, with Washington continuing to expand its crackdown on transnational criminal networks.
