President Donald Trump on Friday (June 12) said U.S. forces carried out a strike that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, the leader of Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua.

"At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Nino Guerrero the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Friday evening.

"This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well."

Trump did not specify when the strike took place.

Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Trump administration has repeatedly targeted Guerrero and other leaders of the Tren de Aragua organization with sanctions over alleged involvement in criminal activities such as illicit drug smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering.

The State Department has designated Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization.

Trump has claimed Tren de Aragua coordinated its U.S. activities with the Venezuelan government of President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration has cited the alleged connection to justify deporting some immigrants in the U.S. to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.

The White House, Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

INTERNET (JUNE 12, 2026) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all) (MUTE)

1. SCREENSHOT OF U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S TRUTH SOCIAL POST, READING (English):

"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. Before I returned to office, Joe Biden opened our Southern Border to millions of Illegal Criminals, and allowed this foreign army to rape, maim, and murder American Citizens with total impunity. During my Campaign, I pledged to expel these monsters from our Country, and bring Justice to the families of those they slaughtered, including the precious 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, 22-year-old Laken Reilly, and countless other beautiful souls. With this action, the United States Military has brought retribution for them, their families, and their loved ones. Early in my Administration, I delivered on my promise to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, deport thousands of evil criminals, and wage war against the Cartels, who have long been waging war against our Citizens, while weak leaders left America helpless and defensive. This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well. As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drugs lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong. GOD BLESS AMERICA! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

2. SCREEN RECORDING OF POST

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION (RELEASED 12 JUNE, 2026) (DONALD TRUMP VIA TRUTH SOCIAL - No resale/ No archive/ Must on-screen courtesy DONALD TRUMP VIA TRUTH SOCIAL) (MUTE)

3. FOOTAGE SHOWING PURPORTED STRIKE ON BUILDING

4. MONOCHROMATIC FOOTAGE OF STRIKE

INTERNET (JUNE 12, 2026) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all) (MUTE)

5. SCREENSHOT OF X POST BY U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH, READING (English): "Earlier this week, the @DeptofWar — in full collaboration with Venezuelan security forces — conducted a kinetic strike on a Tren de Aragua (TdA) compound in Venezuela. TdA founder & leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, aka “Niño Guerrero,” was confirmed killed during the strike. The operation underscores the shared U.S. and Venezuelan commitment to take the fight to narco-terrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere. We will continue to work closely with security partners, like Venezuela — and counties in the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) partners — to take the fight to our enemies."

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION (ARCHIVE) (U.S. IMMIGRATIONS AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT - Access all) (MUTE) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT)

6. STILL PHOTO MUGSHOT OF LEADER OF VENEZUELAN PRISON GANG TREN DE ARAGUA, HECTOR RUSTHENFORD GUERRERO FLORES AKA “NINO GUERRERO”