U.S. Military Strike Kills Leader of Tren de Aragua

美國軍事打擊擊斃 Tren de Aragua 首領

Jun 13, 2026, 02:25
South AmericaPolitics

Introduction

The United States government has announced that Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the criminal group Tren de Aragua, has been killed during a military operation in Venezuela.

美國政府宣布，犯罪集團 Tren de Aragua 的首領 Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores 在委內瑞拉的一次軍事行動中被擊斃。

Main Body

The operation was carried out by the United States Southern Command following an order from the president. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the location of the strike, and the government shared images showing the destroyed building. This action was conducted together with the current interim government of Venezuela, led by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, after the arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in January.

此次行動是由美國南方司令部根據總統的指令執行的。國防部長 Pete Hegseth 確認了打擊地點，政府也分享了顯示建築物被毀的照片。在 1 月前總統 Nicolás Maduro 及其妻子被捕後，此次行動是與由副總統 Delcy Rodriguez 領導的委內瑞拉現任臨時政府合作進行的。

Originally, Tren de Aragua started as a small prison gang, but it grew into an international criminal organization. Under Guerrero Flores, the group began controlling gold mines, drug routes in the Caribbean, and illegal border crossings between Venezuela and Colombia. The U.S. Department of Justice described him as the person responsible for this growth, accusing him of money laundering using cryptocurrency and trafficking drugs and weapons. Consequently, the State Department labeled the group a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025 and offered a $5 million reward for information to help convict him.

最初，Tren de Aragua 僅是一個小型監獄幫派，但隨後成長為一個國際犯罪組織。在 Guerrero Flores 的領導下，該組織開始控制金礦、加勒比海的毒品路線以及委內瑞拉與哥倫比亞之間的非法邊境通道。美國司法部將其形容為該擴張的責任人，指控其利用加密貨幣洗錢並販運毒品與武器。因此，國務院於 2025 年 2 月將該組織列為「外國恐怖組織」，並提供 500 萬美元獎金，以換取有助於定罪他的資訊。

From a policy level, the administration has linked this operation to national security and immigration control. President Trump asserted that the strike provides justice for victims of the group, specifically mentioning the deaths of Laken Reilly and Jocelyn Nungaray. Furthermore, the administration used this event to criticize the previous government's border policies, arguing that weak rules allowed criminals to enter the U.S. This strike is part of a larger series of military actions in the Pacific and Caribbean that have resulted in at least 207 deaths since September.

在政策層面，政府將此次行動與國家安全及移民控制掛鉤。川普總統 asserted 此次打擊為該組織的受害者帶來了正義，特別提到 Laken Reilly 與 Jocelyn Nungaray 的死亡。此外，政府利用此次事件批評前政府的邊境政策，認為寬鬆的規定允許犯罪分子進入美國。此次打擊是太平洋與加勒比海地區一系列更大規模軍事行動的一部分，自 9 月以來已導致至少 207 人死亡。

Conclusion

The U.S. military has successfully removed the leader of Tren de Aragua, showing a continuing partnership with the interim Venezuelan government to destroy international criminal networks.

美國軍方成功剷除 Tren de Aragua 的首領，顯示出其與委內瑞拉臨時政府持續合作，共同摧毀國際犯罪網絡。

Vocabulary Learning

⚡ The "B2 Bridge": Moving from Simple to Sophisticated

At the A2 level, you describe the world in simple pieces: "The group was small. Then it became big." To reach B2, you need Logical Connectors. These are the words that glue ideas together to show cause, effect, and contrast.

🛠️ The Power Shift

Look at how this text transforms basic ideas into professional English:

  • Instead of "So..." →\rightarrow Use "Consequently"

    • A2: He did bad things, so the government gave a reward.
    • B2: He was responsible for growth; consequently, the State Department offered a $5 million reward.
    • Why? "Consequently" signals a formal result. It tells the reader that the second part is a direct legal consequence of the first.

  • Instead of "Also..." →\rightarrow Use "Furthermore"

    • A2: The strike kills the leader. Also, the president criticized the old rules.
    • B2: President Trump asserted that the strike provides justice. Furthermore, the administration used this event to criticize border policies.
    • Why? "Furthermore" doesn't just add information; it builds an argument. It's like adding a second floor to a house.

🔍 The "Passive Transition"

B2 speakers stop focusing on who did the action and focus on what happened. This is the Passive Voice.

"The operation was carried out by the United States..."

If you say "The US carried out the operation," it's A2 (Subject →\rightarrow Verb →\rightarrow Object). By using "was carried out," you shift the focus to the Operation itself. This is the secret to sounding academic and objective.

💡 Quick Upgrade Map

A2 WordB2 ReplacementEffect
Big/LargeInternational / Wide-scaleMore Precise
SaidAsserted / ConfirmedMore Authority
Because ofLinked toMore Professional

Vocabulary Learning

interim (adj.)
Temporary; intended to last for a short time until a permanent replacement is found.
Example:The interim government was established to manage the country until the next election.
money laundering (n.)
The process of making illegally gained money appear legal.
Example:The criminal was arrested for money laundering after transferring funds through several shell companies.
trafficking (v./n.)
The act of buying and selling goods or people illegally.
Example:The organization was involved in trafficking weapons across the border.
convict (v.)
To officially declare someone to be guilty of a criminal offense in a court of law.
Example:The prosecution presented enough evidence to convict the suspect of fraud.
asserted (v.)
Stated a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.
Example:The manager asserted that the new strategy would increase sales by twenty percent.
partnership (n.)
A relationship in which two or more parties agree to cooperate to achieve a common goal.
Example:The two countries formed a strategic partnership to improve regional security.
Practice B2 words in a crossword→