The United States has killed a senior Venezuelan gang leader in an airstrike, officials confirmed on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s global security campaign. The targeted strike, which occurred in the early hours near the Colombian border, eliminated Carlos “El Chamo” Mendoza, head of the feared Tren de Aragua criminal network. The operation was authorised by President Donald Trump as part of a broader crackdown on transnational crime, which he has framed as a national security priority.
The strike represents a departure from previous US policy, which had focused on sanctions and diplomatic pressure against the Venezuelan government. Analysts say the move signals a more aggressive posture towards non-state actors operating in the region, with potential implications for US relations with Caracas and Bogota. Venezuela’s government condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty, while the Trump administration defended it as a lawful action against a designated terrorist organisation.
