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

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.

.@SECWAR "In partnership with the Venezuelan government—they invited our military in because they had a foreign terrorist organization on their soil in Tren de Aragua... The founder and leader—we were able to identify where he was and KILL HIM—just like we would kill Al-Qaeda or ISIS. We treat these foreign terrorist organizations THE SAME WAY!"

Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as "Niño Guerrero" and identified as the leader of the Tren de Aragua (TdA), was considered the most wanted criminal in Venezuela and one of the main targets of the US authorities. This Friday, President Donald Trump announced that Guerrero was killed by U.S. Southern Command in what he described as a "swift and lethal kinetic strike." Guerrero, approximately 42 years old, was identified as the top leader of the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a criminal organization that originated within the Venezuelan prison system and eventually extended its activities beyond the country's prisons and borders. Venezuelan authorities were searching for him on a long list of crimes, including kidnapping, murder for hire, human trafficking, drug trafficking, extortion, terrorism, arms trafficking, conspiracy, and obstruction of free trade. Under his leadership, the Tren de Aragua grew from a structure born within the prison system into an organization with a presence in several Latin American countries and operations detected in various U.S. cities. The gang established its main center of operations in the Tocorón prison, from where it allegedly coordinated activities related to extortion, kidnapping, homicide, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. A $5 million reward was offered. Over the years, the organization expanded its presence to several countries in the region, including Colombia, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Mexico, as well as Spain. It was also linked to operations in various U.S. cities, including New York, Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Illinois. Due to his role within the criminal structure, the U.S. State Department added 'Niño Guerrero' to the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. Washington offered up to $5 million for information leading to his capture and subsequent conviction. Furthermore, the Trump Administration designated the TdA as a foreign terrorist organization and maintained that the group had developed a campaign of terror throughout the hemisphere. Other TdA members: Below Guerrero, there are other high-ranking members of the organization who continue to be sought by authorities. Among them is Yohan José Romero, alias "Johan Petrica," considered a co-founder of the Tren de Aragua gang, for whom a reward of four million dollars is offered. Also listed is Josué Ángel Santana Peña, known as "Santanita," identified as one of the criminal organization's main collaborators. Another name associated with the organization's leadership is Wilmer José Pérez Castillo, alias "Wilmer Guayabal," identified as one of "Niño Guerrero's" top lieutenants. According to the accusations against him, he allegedly participated in activities related to drug trafficking, bribery, and various acts of violence attributed to the criminal group. (With information from RT News)

Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, conocido como "Niño Guerrero" y señalado como el líder del Tren de Aragua (TdA), era considerado el delincuente más buscado de Venezuela y uno de los principales objetivos de las autoridades estadounidenses. Este viernes, el presidente Donald Trump informó que Guerrero fue abatido por el Comando Sur de EE.UU. mediante lo que describió como un "ataque cinético rápido y letal".Guerrero, de aproximadamente 42 años, era señalado como el máximo cabecilla del TdA, una organización criminal que surgió dentro del sistema penitenciario venezolano y que con el tiempo extendió sus actividades más allá de las cárceles y las fronteras del país.Las autoridades venezolanas lo buscaban por una larga lista de delitos, entre ellos secuestro, sicariato, trata de personas, narcotráfico, extorsión, terrorismo, tráfico de armas, asociación para delinquir y obstrucción a la libertad de comercio.Bajo su liderazgo, el Tren de Aragua pasó de ser una estructura nacida dentro del sistema penitenciario a convertirse en una organización con presencia en varios países de América Latina y operaciones detectadas en distintas ciudades de Estados Unidos. La banda llegó a establecer su principal centro de operaciones en la cárcel de Tocorón, desde donde presuntamente coordinaba actividades relacionadas con extorsión, secuestro, homicidios, trata de personas y tráfico de drogas.Recompensa de 5 millones de dólaresCon el paso de los años, la organización expandió su presencia a varios países de la región, incluidos Colombia, Perú, Chile, Brasil y México, además de España. También fue vinculada con operaciones en distintas ciudades de Estados Unidos, entre ellas Nueva York, Texas, Florida, Colorado e Illinois.Debido a su papel dentro de la estructura criminal, el Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. incorporó a 'Niño Guerrero' al Programa de Recompensas contra la Delincuencia Organizada Transnacional. Washington ofrecía hasta 5 millones de dólares por información que permitiera su captura y posterior condena. Asimismo, la Administración Trump declaró al TdA como una organización terrorista extranjera y sostuvo que el grupo había desarrollado una campaña de terror en todo el hemisferio.Otros integrantes del TdADebajo de Guerrero, hay otros integrantes de alto rango de la organización que continúan siendo buscados por las autoridades. Entre ellos figura Yohan José Romero, alias "Johan Petrica", considerado cofundador del Tren de Aragua y por quien se ofrece una recompensa de cuatro millones de dólares. También aparece Josué Ángel Santana Peña, conocido como "Santanita", señalado como uno de los principales colaboradores de la estructura criminal.Otro de los nombres asociados al liderazgo de la organización es Wilmer José Pérez Castillo, alias "Wilmer Guayabal", identificado como uno de los principales lugartenientes de "Niño Guerrero". Según las acusaciones en su contra, habría participado en actividades relacionadas con el narcotráfico, la recaudación de sobornos y diversos hechos violentos atribuidos al grupo criminal.Con información de Actualidad RT

News: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed that the operation took place earlier this week in Venezuelan territory. INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST 06/12/2026 8:25 PM Updated: 06/13/2026 4:45 PM EL TIEMPO CORRESPONDENT IN CARACAS 06/12/2026 8:25 PM Updated: 06/13/2026 4:45 PM US President Donald Trump announced that, under his direction, Southern Command executed a “swift and lethal” operation that culminated in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Niño Guerrero, identified as the leader of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua, for whom Washington had offered a $5 million reward. In a message posted on his Truth Social account, the Republican president stated that the alleged drug trafficker led one of the organizations “The most bloodthirsty terrorists on the planet.” READ ALSO The leader of the Tren de Aragua. Photo: Private archive. The president assured that this military action was carried out in close coordination with Venezuela, a country with which, after the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the rise of Delcy Rodríguez as acting head of state, Washington maintains—according to Trump—"an excellent relationship." After the announcement, the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, gave more details of the operation. According to the official, the attack took place earlier this week on Venezuelan territory. "The operation underscores the shared commitment of the United States and Venezuela 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, such as Venezuela—and countries in the Americas Cartel Coalition (A3C)—to take the fight to our enemies," Hegseth added. Born in Maracay, in the state of Aragua, alias Niño Guerrero built a network of trust early on, along with his brother, Cheison Rover Guerrero—captured in Spain in 2024—and his brother-in-law, Neomar Antonio Aldana. His criminal career began in the 2000s, a period during which he was linked to crimes such as illegal possession of firearms, drug trafficking, and homicide. He was incarcerated several times in Tocorón prison, although he managed to regain his freedom by evading prison controls. In 2018 he was sentenced to 17 years in prison for homicide, drug trafficking, identity theft and concealment of weapons of war. However, at the end of 2023, he escaped from prison, and since then, authorities had information placing him in the border area between Venezuela and Brazil. He was also wanted under the RICO Act, which combats organized crime, and was accused of providing material support to terrorism, as well as participating in assaults, kidnappings, and murders. An operation in the mines of Bolívar preceded the attack. While the specific location of the attack has not yet been officially reported, it coincides with an intense military operation that has been underway for a week in the mines of Bolívar state, in the south of the country, where Venezuelan criminal groups, as well as paramilitary and guerrilla structures, including the ELN, operate, as human rights and environmental organizations have denounced for years. In this regard, unofficial sources told EL TIEMPO that these operations were precisely aimed at locating alias Niño Guerrero and Johan Petrica, another leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, whose capture was sought. The United States is offering a $4 million reward. READ ALSO: Initially, it was speculated that the U.S. military was involved in the operation, but authorities from both countries did not confirm the rumors. Videos shared by citizens in the area showed Venezuelan forces flying over the zone. The United States kills Niño Guerrero, top leader of the Tren de Aragua gang. Photo: Private archive. Trump's message is accompanied by a video of what appears to be the moment of the bombing of the hideout where 'Niño Guerrero' was located. The recording, which lasts about 10 seconds, shows a house surrounded by vegetation in an unknown area, which, seconds later, is hit by a projectile. Then, a huge cloud of smoke rose several meters into the air. "As a result, the Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else," added Trump, who sent a message to the other members of this and other armed groups. Trump also used the announcement to defend his security policy and once again attack his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden. In his post, the president asserted that during Biden's term (2021-2025), the United States "opened" the southern border to "millions of illegal criminals" and maintained that these policies allowed the entry of members of foreign criminal organizations. He also stated that during his campaign he promised to expel those responsible for these crimes from the country and "bring justice" to the victims of crimes attributed to undocumented migrants. Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Niño Guerrero. Photo: Courtesy. In that context, Trump mentioned the cases of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old girl murdered in Texas (USA) in June 2024, and Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student murdered while jogging near the University of Georgia campus in February of that same year. Both cases gained significant relevance in the US political debate on migration and border security, as authorities linked the crimes to Venezuelan citizens who were allegedly members of the 'Tren de Aragua' gang. READ ALSO "With this action, the United States Armed Forces have done justice for them, their families, and their loved ones," the president stated. The president also highlighted that one of his first decisions after returning to the White House was to designate the Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization. According to Trump, this measure was part of a broader strategy to combat transnational criminal organizations and drug cartels—including Colombian criminal structures—that, in his words, "have been fighting" against U.S. citizens for years. Weapons seized by the U.S. against the Tren de Aragua. Photo: U.S. Department of Justice / Courtesy. Since then, his administration has pursued a policy of increased pressure against criminal structures in the region, including bombings and maritime interdiction operations targeting vessels linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Pacific. These operations have been criticized by experts and organizations as extrajudicial killings. A blow to one of the region's most violent criminal organizations. The Tren de Aragua is considered by the organization InSight Crime to be "the most powerful criminal structure in Venezuela and the only local group that has managed to establish itself abroad." According to the research center specializing in organized crime, the Tren de Aragua went from being a gang that emerged in the Tocorón prison, in the Venezuelan state of Aragua, to becoming a transnational criminal network with a presence in several South American countries and a broad portfolio of illicit activities. READ ALSO The group took advantage of the self-governance conditions that for years characterized some Venezuelan prisons and gradually expanded its operations outside the penitentiary. Over time, it expanded its activities to include crimes such as extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, migrant smuggling, smuggling, illegal mining, drug micro-trafficking, robbery, and cybercrime. InSight Crime maintains that the organization found opportunities to infiltrate migration corridors and illegal economies associated with population flows. Between 2018 and 2023, the group established cells in Colombia, Peru, and Chile, in addition to registering sporadic presences in countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil. Follow all the International news on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter. EL TIEMPO NEWSLETTERS: Sign up for our newsletters and receive news in your email according to your interests. Stay informed about what really matters to you. EL TIEMPO GOOGLE NEWS: Follow us on GOOGLE NEWS. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, coverage, stories, and analysis directly on Google News. 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NoticiaEl secretario de Guerra, Pete Hegseth, confirmó que el operativo se llevó a cabo a principios de esta semana en territorio venezolano.PERIODISTA INTERNACIONAL12.06.2026 20:25 Actualizado: 13.06.2026 16:45 CORRESPONSAL DE EL TIEMPO EN CARACAS12.06.2026 20:25 Actualizado: 13.06.2026 16:45 El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, anunció que, bajo su dirección, el Comando Sur ejecutó una operación “rápida y letal” que culminó con la muerte de Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Niño Guerrero, señalado como el líder de la organización criminal transnacional Tren de Aragua y por quien Washington ofrecía una recompensa de 5 millones de dólares.En un mensaje publicado en su cuenta de Truth Social, el mandatario republicano afirmó que el presunto narcotraficante lideraba una de las organizaciones terroristas “más sanguinarias del planeta”. LEA TAMBIÉN El cabecilla del Tren de Aragua. Foto:Archivo particularEl mandatario aseguró que esta acción militar fue efectuada en coordinación estrecha con Venezuela, país con el que, tras la captura de Nicolás Maduro y el ascenso de Delcy Rodríguez como jefa encargada, Washington mantiene -dice Trump- "una excelente relación".Tras el anuncio, el secretario de Guerra estadounidense, Pete Hegseth, dio más detalles del operativo. Según el funcionario, el ataque se llevó a cabo a principios de esta semana en territorio venezolano."La operación subraya el compromiso compartido de Estados Unidos y Venezuela de llevar la lucha a los narcoterroristas y negarles cualquier refugio seguro en nuestro hemisferio. Continuaremos trabajando estrechamente con socios de seguridad, como Venezuela —y países en la Coalición Contra Carteles de las Américas (A3C)— para llevar la lucha a nuestros enemigos", agregó Hegseth.Nacido en Maracay, en el estado Aragua, alias Niño Guerrero construyó desde temprano una red de confianza junto a su hermano, Cheison Rover Guerrero -capturado en España en 2024-, y su cuñado, Neomar Antonio Aldana. Su trayectoria en el mundo delictivo comenzó en la década de 2000, período desde el cual fue vinculado con delitos como porte ilegal de armas, narcotráfico y homicidio.Fue recluido en varias ocasiones en la cárcel de Tocorón, aunque logró recuperar su libertad burlando los controles penitenciarios. En 2018 fue condenado a 17 años de prisión por homicidio, tráfico de drogas, usurpación de identidad y ocultamiento de armas de guerra. Sin embargo, a finales de 2023 se fugó del penal y desde entonces las autoridades manejaban información que lo ubicaba en la zona fronteriza entre Venezuela y Brasil.Además, era perseguido bajo la Ley RICO, que combate las organizaciones criminales, y estaba acusado de brindar apoyo material al terrorismo, así como de participar en asaltos, secuestros y asesinatos.Un operativo en las minas de Bolívar antecedió el ataqueSi bien hasta el momento no se ha informado de manera oficial el lugar específico del ataque, este coincide con un intenso operativo militar que se desarrolla desde hace una semana en las minas del estado Bolívar, al sur del país, donde operan grupos delincuenciales venezolanos, así como estructuras paramilitares y guerrilleras, entre ellas el Eln, según han denunciado durante años organizaciones de derechos humanos y ambientales.Al respecto, fuentes extraoficiales le señalaron a EL TIEMPO que estos operativos tenían precisamente como objetivo dar con el paradero de alias Niño Guerrero y de Johan Petrica, otro de los cabecillas del Tren de Aragua, por cuya captura Estados Unidos ofrece una recompensa de 4 millones de dólares. LEA TAMBIÉN En un principio se especuló que el Ejército estadounidense estaba involucrado en la operación, pero las autoridades de ambos países no confirmaron los rumores. Videos de difundidos por ciudadanos en la zona mostraban a fuerzas venezolanas sobrevolando la zona.Estados Unidos abate a Niño Guerrero, máximo cabecilla del Tren de Aragua. Foto:Archivo particularEl mensaje de Trump va acompañado de un video de lo que sería el momento del bombardeo al escondite donde se encontraba 'Niño Guerrero'. La grabación, que dura alrededor de 10 segundos, muestra una vivienda rodeada de vegetación ubicada en una zona desconocida que, segundos después, es impactada por un proyectil. Luego, una enorme nube de humo se eleva varios metros en el aire."Como resultado, los terroristas del Tren de Aragua ya no tienen refugio seguro en Venezuela ni en ningún otro lugar", agregó Trump, quien envió un mensaje a los demás miembros de esta y otras estructuras armadas.Trump también aprovechó el anuncio para reivindicar su política de seguridad y volver a arremeter contra su antecesor, el demócrata Joe Biden. En su publicación, el mandatario aseguró que durante el mandato de Biden (2021-2025), Estados Unidos “abrió” la frontera sur a “millones de delincuentes ilegales" y sostuvo que esas políticas permitieron el ingreso de miembros de organizaciones criminales extranjeras. Asimismo, afirmó que durante su campaña prometió expulsar del país a los responsables de estos delitos y "hacer justicia" para las víctimas de crímenes atribuidos a migrantes en situación irregular.Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Niño Guerrero. Foto:CortesíaEn ese contexto, Trump mencionó los casos de Jocelyn Nungaray, una niña de 12 años asesinada en Texas (EE. UU.) en junio de 2024, y de Laken Riley, una estudiante de enfermería de 22 años asesinada mientras corría cerca del campus de la Universidad de Georgia en febrero de ese mismo año.Ambos casos adquirieron una gran relevancia en el debate político estadounidense sobre migración y seguridad fronteriza, debido a que las autoridades vincularon los crímenes con ciudadanos venezolanos y que serían miembros del 'Tren de Aragua'. LEA TAMBIÉN "Con esta acción, las Fuerzas Armadas de los Estados Unidos han hecho justicia para ellos, sus familias y sus seres queridos", afirmó el presidente.El mandatario también destacó que una de sus primeras decisiones tras regresar a la Casa Blanca fue designar al Tren de Aragua como una organización terrorista extranjera.Según Trump, esa medida formó parte de una estrategia más amplia para combatir a organizaciones criminales transnacionales y cárteles de la droga -entre las que también se encuentran estructuras criminales colombianas- que, en sus palabras, "han estado combatiendo" contra ciudadanos estadounidenses durante años.Armas incautadas por EE. UU. contra el Tren de Aragua Foto:Departamento de Justicia de EE. UU. / CortesíaDesde entonces, su administración ha impulsado una política de mayor presión contra estructuras criminales de la región, incluyendo bombardeos y acciones de interdicción marítima dirigidas contra embarcaciones vinculadas al narcotráfico en el Caribe y el Pacífico. Estos operativos han sido criticados por expertos y organizaciones como ejecuciones extrajudiciales.Un golpe a una de las organizaciones criminales más violentas de la regiónEl Tren de Aragua es considerado por la organización InSight Crime como "la estructura criminal más poderosa de Venezuela y el único grupo local que ha logrado afianzarse en el extranjero". De acuerdo con el centro de investigación especializado en crimen organizado, el Tren de Aragua pasó de ser una banda surgida en la prisión de Tocorón, en el estado venezolano de Aragua, a convertirse en una red criminal transnacional con presencia en varios países de Sudamérica y un amplio portafolio de actividades ilícitas. LEA TAMBIÉN El grupo aprovechó las condiciones de autogobierno que durante años caracterizaron a algunas prisiones venezolanas y expandió gradualmente sus operaciones fuera del centro penitenciario. Con el tiempo, amplió sus actividades hacia delitos como extorsión, secuestro, trata de personas con fines de explotación sexual, tráfico de migrantes, contrabando, minería ilegal, microtráfico de drogas, robo y ciberdelincuencia.InSight Crime sostiene que la organización encontró oportunidades para infiltrarse en corredores migratorios y economías ilegales asociadas a los flujos de población. Entre 2018 y 2023, el grupo estableció células en Colombia, Perú y Chile, además de registrar presencias esporádicas en países como Ecuador, Bolivia y Brasil. Sigue toda la información de Internacional en Facebook y Twitter, o en nuestra newsletter semanal. BOLETINES EL TIEMPORegístrate en nuestros boletines y recibe noticias en tu correo según tus intereses. 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Analysis: Hopefully, Colombia will take advantage of the current situation and the synergy with the U.S. directly dealing with the criminals who have cost us so much bloodshed. Niño Guerrero died in a bombing in Venezuela. Photo: EL TIEMPO Archive and President Donald Trump EDITOR MESA 06/15/2026 10:01 PM Updated: 06/15/2026 10:01 PM If anyone thought that President Donald Trump's heavy-handed strategy against drug trafficking—drug smuggling boats bombed without warning on the high seas—had been sidelined after the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on January 3, they are now reminded of their error by the impressive explosion perfectly captured on aerial video in the mining state of Bolívar, in southwestern Venezuela. Last Tuesday, without even seeing the death that fell upon him from the sky, the criminal career of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the ‘Niño Guerrero’ (Guerrero Kid), came to an end. From Tocorón prison, thanks to alliances and lucrative criminal dealings with the Miraflores regime, he transformed a violent but small gang of common criminals from the industrial state of Aragua into a threat to the security of the entire country. The hemisphere. READ ALSO In just over a decade, ‘Niño Guerrero’ and his surviving associates, such as ‘John Petrica,’ “exported” their criminal model to all the countries affected by the humanitarian diaspora generated by the economic disaster and human rights violations perpetrated by Chavismo in Venezuela. Alias Niño Guerrero, top leader of the Tren de Aragua, killed in Venezuela. Photo: Courtesy. The most brutal violence—dismembered and stuffed into suitcases as rival criminals and hundreds of murders of ordinary neighbors who refused to pay extortion—also made them a threat to the mafias that controlled local criminal revenues from Chile to the United States. And throughout the continent, their hitmen acted as the outstretched hand of Miraflores against the voices of Venezuelan dissidents. READ ALSO In the jungle state of Bolívar, in a green-roofed building that was blown to bits during a surgical military operation in which, according to Trump, the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez provided full support, the days of the transnational kingpin whom the United States considered one of its most important targets came to an end. And it is striking that ‘Niño Guerrero,’ whose trail was being sought in Colombia, Central America, and Guyana, chose to take refuge at the end of his days in the same region that, more than a decade ago, the regime “ceded” to the ELN and the ‘Segunda Marquetalia’ so that they could control it and profit from the illegal exploitation of gold and rare earth elements. READ ALSO Those kingpins of alleged guerrilla groups in Colombia and paramilitary forces of the dictatorship in Venezuela, who since January had been seeking refuge, must now be, like the top leaders of the FARC fifteen years ago, sleeping with one eye open. Hopefully, Colombia will take advantage of the moment and the synergy that has Washington directly addressing the criminals who have cost us so much blood for decades. JHON TORRES Editor of EL TIEMPO In X: @JhonTorresET Follow all the Justice information on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter.

AnálisisOjalá Colombia aproveche el momento y la sinergia que tienen hoy a EE. UU. ocupándose directamente de los criminales que tanta sangre nos han costado.Niño Guerrero murió en un bombardeo en Venezuela. Foto: Archivo EL TIEMPO y presidente Donald TrumpEDITOR MESA15.06.2026 22:01 Actualizado: 15.06.2026 22:01 Si alguien pensaba que la estrategia del garrote del presidente Donald Trump contra el narcotráfico –las lanchas de los narcos bombardeadas sin aviso en altamar– había quedado relegada tras la captura de Nicolás Maduro en Caracas el 3 de enero pasado, queda notificado de su error por la impresionante explosión grabada perfectamente en video aéreo en el estado minero de Bolívar, suroccidente de Venezuela.El martes pasado, sin que siquiera viera venir la muerte que le cayó desde el cielo, terminó la ruta criminal de Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, el ‘Niño Guerrero’, que desde la cárcel de Tocorón y gracias a las alianzas y los millonarios negocios criminales con el régimen de Miraflores convirtió a una violenta pero limitada banda de delincuencia común del estado industrial de Aragua en una amenaza para la seguridad de todo el hemisferio. LEA TAMBIÉN En poco más de una década, ‘Niño Guerrero’ y socios que aún le sobreviven, como ‘John Petrica’, “exportaron” su modelo criminal a todos los países tocados por la diáspora humanitaria generada por el desastre económico y las violaciones de derechos humanos perpetradas por el chavismo en Venezuela.Alias Niño Guerrero, máximo jefe del Tren de Aragua, abatido en Venezuela. Foto:CortesíaLa violencia más descarnada –competidores criminales descuartizados y enmaletados y centenares de asesinatos de simples vecinos de barrio que se negaban a pagar extorsiones– los convirtió también en una amenaza para las mafias que manejaban las rentas criminales locales desde Chile hasta Estados Unidos. Y en todo el continente, sus sicarios actuaban como la mano extendida de Miraflores en contra de las voces de los disidentes venezolanos. LEA TAMBIÉN En el estado selvático de Bolívar, en una construcción de techo verde que voló por los aires en el desarrollo de una quirúrgica operación militar en la que el gobierno interino de Delcy Rodríguez, según Trump, prestó toda su ayuda, terminaron los días del capo transnacional al que Estados Unidos consideraba como uno de sus objetivos más importantes.Y no deja de ser llamativo el hecho de que ‘Niño Guerrero’, cuyo rastro se buscaba en Colombia, Centroamérica y Guyana, haya decidido refugiarse al final de sus días en la misma región que hace más de una década el régimen “cedió” al Eln y la ‘Segunda Marquetalia’ para que los controlaran y se lucraran de la explotación ilegal de oro y tierras raras. LEA TAMBIÉN Esos capos de supuestas guerrillas en Colombia y fuerzas paramilitares de la dictadura en Venezuela que desde enero estaban buscando escampaderos deben andar hoy, como hace tres lustros los máximos jefes de las Farc, durmiendo con un ojo abierto. Ojalá Colombia aproveche el momento y la sinergia que tienen hoy a Washington ocupándose directamente de los criminales que tanta sangre nos han costado por décadas.JHON TORRESEditor de EL TIEMPOEn X: @JhonTorresET Sigue toda la información de Justicia en Facebook y Twitter, o en nuestra newsletter semanal.

On June 12, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) had killed “Niño Guerrero” (Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores), the leader of the transnational criminal gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). Trump stated that the operation was “coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well.” The CIA reportedly provided intelligence for the operation. The following day, in an X post, the USSOUTHCOM Commander, General Frank Donovan, expressed “gratitude to the Venezuelan security forces for their support in the successful joint operation against a Tren de Aragua compound that resulted in the death of the narco-terrorist organization’s leader,” who was “a wanted fugitive charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with ordering, directing, and facilitating acts of terrorism and violence in the United States.” According to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 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 countries in the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) partners — to take the fight to our enemies. The administration has not yet stated the purported legal basis under domestic or international law for the operations, nor explained why, in its view, the killing does not constitute murder or extrajudicial killing. The following annotated list addresses those and related questions about the June 12th operation in Venezuela (and is relevant to any future such operations). Administration View on Legal Authority 1. On what domestic and international law authority does the Trump administration believe it was acting in carrying out this killing? Note:The Trump administration has not yet stated the purported legal basis for what appears to be a pre-planned targeted killing operation under domestic or international law. Law Enforcement Operations and Limitations 2. Does the administration believe that the operation in which the U.S. military conducted a lethal strike against Guerrero can be legally justified on the basis of conducting a law enforcement operation against an individual who has been indicted in the United States, and did Venezuela consent to the operation as an exercise of U.S. law enforcement authority? Note: The Justice Department has noted it has indicted scores of so-called “leaders and members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), linked to various violent crimes inside and outside the United States, including murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and controlled substance trafficking.” As of today, the United States has conducted 63 strikes against alleged drug runners, many reportedly affiliated with Tren de Aragua, killing 207. The United States also participated in a March 6th military operation in Ecuador that involved an airstrike, though the circumstances remain murky. Designation of an individual or group as a “terrorist organization” does not provide authority to take lethal action against any individual or group member subject to that designation (see, for example, this explainer on wartime authorities and what these designations do and do not authorize). Moreover, the United States is not in an armed conflict with Tren de Aragua (see no. 10 in this Q&A), which means status-based killings of its members or leaders are not permissible under the law of armed conflict, given that body of law does not apply in peacetime. Moreover, the existence of a law enforcement investigation (including a warrant for arrest) does not make lethal targeting permissible. During law enforcement operations, lethal force may be used only in certain limited circumstances (see #3 below). While the United States may criminalize conduct abroad that has effects in the United States or harms U.S. citizens (“prescriptive jurisdiction”), the exercise of “enforcement jurisdiction,” such as investigation, arrest, and law-enforcement-based uses of force, requires the consent of the territorial State, Venezuela (Restatement of Foreign Relations Law (Fourth), §§ 407, 409, 411). On the nature of the requisite consent, see Question 8. And on the manner in which a consensual operation may be conducted, see Question 9. 3. Law enforcement operations are subject to international human rights law. What human rights obligations of the United States, if any, were implicated by the killing of Guerrero? Note: The use of deadly force outside an armed conflict (see Question 9) is governed by international human rights law (IHRL), which prohibits the arbitrary deprivation of life. To comply with this rule under customary and treaty IHRL, lethal force: (1) may be used only as a last resort; (2) must be strictly unavoidable to protect life against an imminent threat of death or grievous injury; and (3) is available only when no less extreme alternatives exist. (See, e.g., UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials ¶ 9; UN Human Rights Committee, General Comment No. 36, ¶ 12; McCann v. United Kingdom, ¶¶ 148–49). Under this standard, the lethal strike on Guerrero, even though surgical in character, would have been permissible only if the threat to life he posed was imminent and capture or other less lethal alternatives were unavailable. These are questions of fact that the United States would have to establish to justify the strike as a law enforcement operation. The president’s description of the harm posed by Guerrero does not come close to meeting the imminence standard. The United States has long debated whether IHRL, as a matter of treaty law, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), applies to military operations outside the United States (see, e.g., Army Operational Law Handbook). But, putting that debate aside, a State operating on another State’s territory with that State’s consent is bound by the IHRL obligations of the territorial State (see, e.g., Milanovic). As explained in Question 9, Venezuela shoulders the aforementioned obligation and, as a result, so does the United States when operating in that country; this is the case irrespective of whether any IHRL obligation to respect life applies directly to the United States. During an armed conflict, the killing of enemy forces, so long as done in a manner consistent with the law of armed conflict, is not “arbitrary.” But there was no armed conflict. See Questions 4 and 6. Claimed Armed Conflict with TdA 4. Does the administration believe there is an active armed conflict between the United States and Tren de Aragua, such that targeting its leader would not have been prohibited under the law of armed conflict? If so, on what legal and factual basis did the administration conclude that an armed conflict exists? Note: The United States has claimed that it is involved in a non-international armed conflict (NIAC) with Tren de Aragua. NIACs are armed conflicts between a State and an organized armed group. During such conflicts, it is permissible to target members of the group who are taking part in the hostilities, including those commanding them, based on that status (“status-based targeting”). There are two requirements for the existence of a NIAC. First, the non-state group must be both armed and organized. Cartels and criminal gangs are sometimes well-organized, but they are not per se “armed” in the sense of the law of armed conflict. “Armed” denotes engaging in military violence against the State in an organized fashion; that the group may possess weapons used for other criminal activity does not suffice. The second requirement is that the armed violence between the State and the group must be protracted and intense; sporadic violence is not intense enough. Despite the Trump administration’s reported claims that it is in NIACs with approximately 24 criminal gangs, cartels, or other non-state groups in Latin America, the administration has provided no information suggesting that TdA satisfies the “intensity” of hostilities or “organization” thresholds for an armed conflict to exist. In contrast with White House statements, Venezuela’s statement on the killing notably describes Guerrero as the head of “una organizacion criminal [a criminal organization].” The U.S. Intelligence Community’s April 2025 consensus “sense of the community” assessment is consistent with this characterization. As a few of us previously explained, if a non-state group (like TdA) is not organized in a manner that is roughly comparable to that of a State’s armed forces in order to conduct military-like operations against the State concerned at the requisite level of intensity, it cannot be a party to an “armed conflict” under international law, and status-based targeting of the group’s members or leaders is flatly prohibited. On whether there is a NIAC between Venezuela and TdA, and if so, its implications for U.S. operations in Venezuela, see Question 9. 5. Does the United States believe the strike on Guerrero was taken in self-defense, as codified in Article 51 of the UN Charter? If so, what is the factual basis for concluding that TdA was engaged in an imminent or ongoing “armed attack” against the United States justifying the use of force in self-defense? Or, does the United States believe that there is an ongoing NIAC with Tren de Aragua (see Question 4), and that it does not need to justify its operations as taken in self-defense? Note: Article 51 allows for the use of necessary and proportionate force to prevent an imminent “armed attack” or defeat an ongoing one. Drug trafficking as such does not constitute an “armed attack” triggering the right of self-defense. Although this claim has recently been made by the United States when it launched Operation Southern Spear in November 2025, the assertion that drug trafficking as such can amount to an armed attack is almost universally rejected by international law experts. Moreover, the prevailing view is that the right of self-defense exists only until the armed attack is over, and no further attacks are imminent. The use of force is never lawful for punishment, general deterrence, or other purposes unrelated to the defense of the State concerned. This raises the question of whether the United States is of the view that there is an ongoing armed attack by TdA. Finally, whether a NIAC is underway (see Question 4) has no bearing on the underlying right to use force in the first place. 6. Does the legal justification for this operation rest on President Trump’s mere assertion that an armed conflict exists? If so, do the Department of Justice, DoD/OGC, and State/L concur that the President may determine an armed conflict exists irrespective of the facts? Is there a record of any facts that were relied on by the president in reaching legal conclusions about TdA, Guerrero, or other potential targets for lethal strikes? Note: International law experts almost universally agree that the existence of a NIAC is a purely factual question that turns on satisfaction of the organization and intensity criteria cited in Question 4. States may not unilaterally declare that a NIAC exists contrary to the facts and then engage in operations permitted only during an armed conflict, like status-based targeting. 7. In the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) cases, the administration has told federal courts that TdA is acting at the direction of the Venezuelan government (it makes this claim because the AEA applies only to incursions and invasions by foreign governments). Those representations to courts are difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile with the statements by Trump and Hegseth in the wake of the Guerrero killing, making clear that Venezuela was aiding the United States in targeting TdA’s leader. Is this further evidence that the administration’s statements to the courts in the AEA cases are either not true or at least no longer true? How can the administration claim to continue to rely on the AEA based on its description of this operation and stated cooperation with the Venezuelan government? Note: Trump stated, “This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well” and Hegseth stated “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.” Venezuela called the strike “a combined operation between security organs of Venezuela and the United States” (“una operación combinada entre organismos de seguridad de Venezuela y de los Estados Unidos”) and praised the “cooperation and exchange of intelligence information among the authorities of both countries” (“cooperación e intercambio de información de inteligencia entre las autoridades de ambos países”). Venezuelan Consent and Underlying Authority 8. The government of Venezuela appears to have agreed to the U.S. lethal operation within its territory. Given the United States’ use of force against Venezuela, removing its head of State by force, and prior and subsequent coercive measures, on what basis does the Trump administration believe that the Venezuelan government’s agreement was free from coercion? Note: The use of force by one State on the territory of another State can violate a number of prohibitions under international law. Such actions can violate the State’s sovereignty because the use of force occurred within its territory. Moreover, an exercise of law enforcement authority on another State’s territory also violates its sovereignty on the basis that under international law only the territorial State may exercise such “enforcement jurisdiction” on its territory (see Question 2). And, under some circumstances, such operations might amount to a use of force in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter against the territorial State, even when targeting non-State actors, such as a terrorist group. However, international law recognizes “valid consent” freely given as a “circumstance precluding the wrongfulness” of an otherwise unlawful action (Articles on State Responsibility, art. 20). General Donovan’s statement issued by SOUTHCOM acknowledges support from Venezuelan security forces and characterizes the operation as “joint.” This statement and the one released by the government of Venezuela suggest not merely acquiescence but active collaboration by Venezuela, which would satisfy the requirement that any consent be valid. Nevertheless, given the power relationship between the two countries, the previous U.S. attack on Venezuela, the military removal of its head of state, President Trump’s repeated statements such as “we’re in charge,” and the fact that the Venezuelan regime remained largely intact after that attack, the issue of whether the consent was freely given looms large. 9. What was the Venezuelan government’s stated legal basis for the action? Its public statements do not indicate that it believes TdA to be in an armed conflict with Venezuela. And if it did not believe an armed conflict exists, on what basis did the operation comport with Venezuela’s international human rights law obligations? Note: It is essential to understand that States may consent only to actions they themselves may undertake under international law. Thus, the legality of the U.S. (or joint U.S.-Venezuela) operation turns on whether there was any basis for Venezuela to use lethal force against Guerrero in the first instance. If Venezuela were involved in a NIAC with TdA, the United States could lawfully engage in status-based targeting at the request of Venezuela. To qualify as a NIAC, the same organization and intensity conditions would have to be satisfied as discussed in Question 4. These are questions of fact. Importantly, even if the situation in Venezuela qualified as a NIAC, Venezuela would be entitled to impose constraints on the U.S. operations, for the U.S. authority to use force would be purely derivative of Venezuela’s. If the situation is not a NIAC, Venezuela’s authority to use force against members of TdA, including Guerrero, would be governed by Venezuelan domestic law and IHRL. In addition to customary IHRL, Venezuela is a party to the American Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Articles 4 and 6 of those instruments, respectively, like customary IHRL, prohibit the arbitrary deprivation of life. Deprivation is not arbitrary when limited to situations where deadly force is the last resort, there is an imminent threat to life or of grievous injury, and there are no alternatives to its use. Thus, if the United States was engaging in forcible law enforcement at the request of Venezuela based on that country’s right to maintain law and order, it would derivatively be bound by the same prohibition. Murder and Extrajudicial Killing 10. On what basis, if any, would the Trump administration distinguish this action from an extrajudicial killing? 11. Does the killing of Guerrero by U.S. active duty personnel constitute the offense of murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)? If not, why not? Note: Article 118 of the UCMJ defines murder for which U.S. servicemembers may be prosecuted, in pertinent part, as follows: Any person subject to this chapter who, without justification or excuse, unlawfully kills a human being, when such person— (1) has a premeditated design to kill; [or] (2) intends to kill or inflict great bodily harm. See also the Manual for Courts-Martial (p. IV-79) as described here. 12. Does the killing of Guerrero implicate conspiracy to commit murder under 18 U.S. Code § 956 or Article 81 of the UCMJ? If not, why not? Assassination Ban 13. Does the killing of Guerrero constitute assassination under the assassination ban in Executive Order (E.O.) 12333? If not, why not? Did CIA lawyers assess whether their agency’s involvement violated E.O. 12333? Note: Section 2.11 of E.O. 12333 provides: “No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States Government shall engage in, or conspire to engage in, assassination.” Scope of the President’s Claimed Art. II Authority 14. As one of us (Tess) and Mary McCord have written, the administration has claimed the president is relying on authority under Article II of the Constitution for killings of individuals alleged to be associated with gangs and cartels abroad, raising a host of serious questions about the purported scope of that authority: In its report to Congress pursuant to the War Powers Resolution [on the vessel strikes that began on Sept. 2, 2025], President Trump claimed that his “constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations” provided authority to kill suspected drug traffickers. Is it [the administration’s] view that Art. II of the Constitution allows the President to use lethal force against anyone he deems a “terrorist”? If so, what criteria would need to be met for an individual or organization to be deemed “terrorists”? Is it  [the administration’s] view that Art. II “affords the President the power to order the military to kill any and all persons around the world who might (in the President’s view) be planning to commit crimes in the United States”? Could the President order the military to kill a “terrorist” in the middle of a city? Bogota? Paris? Chicago? If not, why would he have the authority to order the strikes that have been taken but not those strikes? Operational Roles 15. What were the respective roles of the United States and Venezuela in the action that Venezuela describes as “una operación combinada [a combined operation]?” 16. What Rules of Engagement (ROE) governed the attack? Has Tren de Aragua been “declared hostile”? 17. What alternative operations, such as capture, were considered in lieu of a lethal strike? What was the basis for rejecting them? 18. What was the approval level for authorizing the strike? SOUTHCOM or higher? What was the involvement of judge advocates or other legal advisers? Transparency and Notification 19. Did President Trump report the killing to Congress within 48 hours as required under the War Powers Resolution? If so, will it make that notification public? 20. When did the United States and Venezuela agree this action would be taken? Were members of Congress briefed on the operation prior to its execution? When did President Trump authorize it? When were administration lawyers (in the White House, at DoD, at State), and uniformed lawyers advising SOUTHCOM, informed of plans to undertake the operation? 21. Will the Trump administration publicly release the written legal justification for this lethal operation, including any memorandum by the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (with any redactions for classification that might be needed)? Will the administration share with Congress in full any legal memorandum related to the operation? 22. Did U.S. officials consider any legal risks to U.S. personnel due to the International Criminal Court’s having jurisdiction in the territory of Venezuela? FEATURED IMAGE: (L/R) White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and US Marine Corps General Francis Donovan, commander of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), arrive for the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference at the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters in Doral, Florida on March 5, 2026(Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui / AFP via Getty Images)

June 12, 2026, 11:24 pm Courtesy The Chavista propaganda machine finally confirmed this Friday, June 12, what Donald Trump and the Pentagon had been openly announcing for hours: the United States carried out an operation that resulted in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” in Bolívar state. lapatilla.com Through a statement released by the Ministry of Communication, the Delcy Rodríguez regime acknowledged that the operation was carried out “between Venezuelan and U.S. security agencies” in the southeast of the country, specifically in areas where military deployments had been underway for days under absolute secrecy. The statement also confirmed that the leader of the Tren de Aragua, the mega-criminal gang that operated for years from Venezuelan territory, was “neutralized” during the clashes. The official statement also acknowledged that the operation benefited from “specialized technological support” and mechanisms for “cooperation and intelligence sharing between the authorities of both countries,” highlighting the new level of coordination between Washington and Miraflores. In the statement, the Chavista regime congratulated the officials involved in the operation and asserted that it would continue taking measures against organized crime. However, the document failed to explain how, over the years, the Tren de Aragua gang managed to expand within and beyond Venezuela, eventually becoming an organization designated as terrorist by the United States.

junio 12 2026, 11:24 pm Cortesía El aparato de propaganda chavista finalmente confirmó este viernes 12 de junio lo que Donald Trump y el Pentágono llevaban horas anunciando sin rodeos: Estados Unidos realizó un operativo en el que acabó con Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero”, en el estado Bolívar. lapatilla.comA través de un comunicado difundido por el Ministerio de Comunicación, el régimen de Delcy Rodríguez reconoció que la operación se ejecutó “entre organismos de seguridad de Venezuela y de los Estados Unidos” en el sureste del país, específicamente en zonas donde desde hace días se desarrollaban despliegues militares bajo absoluto hermetismo. El texto confirmó además que durante los enfrentamientos fue “neutralizado” el líder del Tren de Aragua, la megabanda criminal que durante años operó desde territorio venezolano. La nota oficial también admitió que el operativo contó con “apoyo tecnológico especializado” y mecanismos de “cooperación e intercambio de información de inteligencia entre las autoridades de ambos países”, dejando en evidencia el nuevo nivel de coordinación entre Washington y Miraflores. En el comunicado, el chavismo felicitó a los funcionarios involucrados en la operación y aseguró que continuará tomando medidas contra la delincuencia organizada. Sin embargo, el documento evitó explicar cómo durante años el Tren de Aragua logró expandirse dentro y fuera de Venezuela hasta convertirse en una organización catalogada como terrorista por Estados Unidos.