US Strike Kills Venezuelan-Guided Gang Boss in Aragua Region

US Forces Kill Gang Leader in Venezuela Operation

A US operation targeting Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua, resulted in his death, according to President Donald Trump’s statement on Friday. The strike was carried out by the United States Southern Command at the direction of the president.

The operation took place in the southeastern state of Bolivar, Venezuela, and was reportedly in collaboration with the Venezuelan government. According to a statement from the Venezuelan government, Flores was killed during clashes with members of other criminal groups.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the strike occurred earlier in the week, targeting a Tren de Aragua site in Venezuela. The operation is part of an ongoing effort by the US and Venezuela to combat narco-terrorists and deny them safe haven in the region.

Tren de Aragua originated from a notorious prison in the Venezuelan state of Aragua and has been linked to a vast drug trafficking and criminal network. The group has approximately 7,000 members spread across South America and the US.

Flores, 42, escaped from prison in 2023 along with other gang leaders before a police raid. He was charged in absentia in a New York court in December for racketeering conspiracy, among other crimes. The Trump administration has claimed that the group has connections to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s protection, although this claim remains unverified.

The operation has been met with criticism from some quarters, who argue that it may be illegal under both US and international law. At least 207 people have been killed in a series of strikes on small boats in the Pacific and Caribbean attributed to the gang.

Source: Al Jazeera