President Donald Trump announced on Friday that a “swift and lethal kinetic” U.S. Military strike killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang. According to Trump, the operation was directed by the United States Southern Command and coordinated with Venezuelan authorities. The U.S. State Department had previously offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores’ arrest. The Venezuelan ministry of communications confirmed the death of the gang leader, who also went by the alias “Niño Guerrero,” during a “joint operation.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the strike occurred earlier in the week on a compound in Venezuela, noting the operation shows a shared commitment to deny “narco-terrorists” a safe haven. Trump shared unclassified video on social media appearing to show a building with a green roof exploding during the strike. Tren de Aragua has been designated by the United States as a terrorist organization. Authorities announced in December that Guerrero Flores was charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including providing support to terrorists. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, whom Trump nominated as director of national intelligence on Thursday, stated the gang is responsible for extensive violence, extortion, and drug trafficking across North America, South America, and Europe. The Trump administration has accused the gang of being responsible for violence and illicit drug dealing in U.S. Cities. While the administration has claimed the group operated under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a declassified U.S. Intelligence assessment contradicted that claim. The U.S. Removed Maduro from Venezuela in January to face drug charges. The gang originated over a decade ago in a Venezuelan prison, where Guerrero Flores and other inmates assumed control of the facility through force and extortion.