United States President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States armed forces carried out a strike in Venezuela in which Niño Guerrero, described as the leader of the Tren de Aragua criminal network, was killed in what he called a precision military operation. Trump said the action was executed under his direction by the United States Southern Command as part of a broader campaign targeting transnational criminal organisations. 

He described the strike as a “kinetic” operation and claimed it successfully neutralised Guerrero, whom he characterised as a central figure in the alleged network’s activities across the region. According to Trump’s statement, Tren de Aragua has evolved from a Venezuela-based prison gang into a wider criminal syndicate involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and violent crimes.

The organisation has been repeatedly cited by U.S. officials in discussions on regional security threats, though its operational reach and structure remain subjects of ongoing law enforcement assessments. In his post on Truth Social, Trump also used the announcement to criticise former president Joe Biden, alleging that earlier immigration and border policies had contributed to the expansion of criminal networks into the United States.

Also Read: Mark Carney Adopts Muted Tone On Donald Trump Ahead Of G7 Summit

He claimed such policies allowed individuals linked to violent groups to enter the country, intensifying domestic security risks. Trump also shared what he described as classified footage of the strike, which appeared to show a rooftop explosion followed by a plume of smoke and debris. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified, and neither U.S. defence officials nor Venezuelan authorities have confirmed the details of the operation or Guerrero’s reported death.

At the time of publication, there has been no independent confirmation from Venezuela or third-party monitoring agencies regarding the strike or its outcome. The situation remains unverified and continues to develop, with further official clarification awaited on the claims made by the U.S. president.

Also Read: Trump Says Iran Deal Nears Completion, Europe Signing Expected This Weekend