President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military successfully eliminated Hector Raastonford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang. The operation was carried out by the U.S. Southern Command via a "fast and lethal kinetic strike" in coordination with Venezuelan allies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike occurred earlier this week at a gang stronghold in Venezuela's Bolivar state. Tren de Aragua is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government due to its involvement in violence, fraud, and drug trafficking across two continents. Guerrero Flores had previously been sentenced to life in prison by a New York federal court. The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture. This action reflects President Trump's intensified campaign against Latin American criminal organizations during his second term.