Four people aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat, flagged in Florida, were killed and six others wounded on Wednesday after the vessel entered Cuban territorial waters and fired on Cuban border patrol forces, Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior (MININT) reported.
The commander of the patrol boat was also injured during the incident.
The speedboat, registered as FL7726SH, was intercepted about one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino canal. According to MININT, the vessel’s passengers fired on the patrol boat when it attempted to identify them, prompting Cuban forces to return fire. Those injured were evacuated and are receiving medical treatment. The identities, nationalities, and motives of those on board remain unknown, with investigations ongoing.
“This operation demonstrates Cuba’s determination to protect its territorial waters, a fundamental pillar in safeguarding national sovereignty and regional stability,” MININT said in a statement.
U.S. officials have called for a careful investigation. Florida Representative Carlos Gimenez described the use of lethal force against a U.S.-registered vessel as a “massacre” and demanded an urgent inquiry, while Representative María Elvira Salazar said she was closely monitoring developments.
The incident comes amid rising tensions between the two countries. Washington has recently imposed fresh sanctions on Cuba, blocked Venezuelan oil shipments to the island, and earlier this year captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key ally to Cuba.
Cuba has a history of tense maritime encounters, including the 1996 shoot-down of an aircraft distributing leaflets over the island, which killed four people. MININT emphasised that Wednesday’s engagement was part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard Cuban maritime sovereignty.
The confrontation is the latest in a series of incidents highlighting ongoing political and economic friction in the Caribbean region.
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