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Four killed in Cuban waters after speedboat clash
Cuban border guards shot and killed four Cuban nationals residing in the United States during a confrontation near Cayo Falcones on Wednesday, the island's interior ministry reported. Six others were wounded and detained.
Alleged terrorist plot and armed confrontation
According to a statement from Cuba's interior ministry, the Florida-registered speedboat, bearing the number FL7726SH, entered Cuban territorial waters near Villa Clara province. When a coast guard vessel approached for identification, the speedboat's occupants opened fire, injuring a Cuban commander.
The ministry claimed the group, which included individuals with prior criminal records, intended to "carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes." Authorities recovered handguns, assault rifles, improvised explosive devices, and tactical gear from the vessel.
An eleventh person, arrested separately, reportedly confessed to involvement in the alleged plot.
US investigation underway amid diplomatic tensions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Saint Kitts and Nevis, confirmed the boat did not carry US government personnel and said an investigation was ongoing to determine the passengers' motives. He described the incident as "highly unusual" and pledged a swift fact-finding effort.
"We're going to find out exactly what happened, who was involved, and we'll make a determination on the basis of what we find out,"
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
Rubio emphasized that Washington would not rely solely on Cuban accounts, stating the US would independently verify the facts. The US Coast Guard was dispatched to the area following the shootout.
Broader context: US-Cuba relations deteriorate
The incident occurs as tensions between the two nations escalate over Venezuela's oil shipments. The US recently blocked Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba, exacerbating the island's fuel crisis. On Wednesday, the US Treasury announced limited easing of private-sector transactions, including oil sales, for "humanitarian and commercial use."
The Cuban government framed the shootout as a defense of sovereignty, stating, "In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters."
Political fallout in Florida
The deaths prompted outrage among Cuban-American lawmakers. Florida Congressman Carlos Giménez, a former Miami mayor, demanded an investigation into what he called a "massacre." Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier vowed to hold the Cuban government accountable, while Senator Rick Scott urged a full inquiry into the "deeply concerning situation."
The incident coincided with Miami's commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, in which Cuban forces downed two civilian aircraft, killing four.
