Cuba Says Four Killed in Florida-Registered Speedboat Clash

HAVANA (Azat TV) – Four individuals were shot dead by Cuban border guards on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, during a violent confrontation involving a Florida-registered speedboat near Cayo Falcones, off Cuba’s northern coast. The incident, which Cuba’s Interior Ministry has labeled an armed “infiltration for terrorist purposes,” has prompted immediate and independent investigations by U.S. authorities and Florida lawmakers, while Russia has condemned it as an “aggressive provocation by the United States,” significantly escalating diplomatic tensions between Washington and Havana.

Cuba Details Alleged ‘Terrorist’ Infiltration Attempt

Cuba’s Interior Ministry issued a detailed statement asserting that the ten individuals aboard the speedboat, all identified as Cuban nationals residing in the United States, opened fire on a Cuban coast guard vessel that approached them near Cayo Falcones, located in the central Villa Clara province. According to the Cuban account, the confrontation began when a Cuban boat carrying five members of the ministry’s border guard approached the Florida-registered vessel, identified by its registration number FL7726SH, for identification. The ministry claimed the speedboat’s crew “opened fire” and wounded the Cuban commander. As a direct consequence of this exchange, four of the aggressors were killed, and six others were injured.

The ministry further stated that the individuals were heavily armed, with handguns, assault rifles, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recovered from the speedboat, alongside other tactical gear. It was also alleged that the group intended to “carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes.” The six surviving passengers have since been detained and received medical assistance. Additionally, an eleventh person, who allegedly confessed to being part of the plot, has been arrested. The Cuban Interior Ministry specifically noted that most of the individuals involved “have prior records involving criminal and violent activity,” lending weight to their claims of illicit intent.

US Launches Independent Probe Amid Mounting Tensions

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio swiftly announced that the United States was launching its own investigation into the “highly unusual” event. Speaking from Saint Kitts and Nevis, where he was engaged in meetings with Caribbean leaders, Secretary Rubio underscored that Washington would not rely solely on information provided by the Cuban government and was committed to independently verifying the facts. He confirmed that the Florida-registered boat was not carrying any U.S. government personnel and that the U.S. Embassy in Havana was actively working to determine whether those aboard were U.S. citizens or permanent residents, as well as seeking access to the detained individuals. “It is highly unusual to see shootouts on the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens everyday,” Rubio stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. He vowed that U.S. investigators would move “quickly” to gather key facts, with the U.S. Coast Guard reportedly traveling to the “vicinity” of the attack.

The incident also drew strong condemnation and calls for investigation from Florida lawmakers. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier directed local law enforcement to investigate what he termed a “massacre,” stating, “The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.” Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez, a Cuban-American former mayor of Miami, demanded an investigation, while U.S. Senator Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, called for “a full investigation into this deeply concerning situation” and insisted that “The Communist Cuban regime must be held accountable!”

International Reactions Deepen US-Cuba Divide

The deadly speedboat confrontation unfolds against a backdrop of already heightened and complex tensions between the United States and Cuba. Cuba is currently grappling with a severe and deepening fuel crisis, a situation exacerbated by U.S. sanctions aimed at blocking oil shipments from Venezuela, a long-standing ally of the island nation. The Cuban Interior Ministry’s initial statement on the incident explicitly referenced these ongoing challenges, reaffirming Cuba’s “determination to protect its territorial waters” and safeguard its national sovereignty.

Notably, the incident occurred just one day after the U.S. Treasury Department announced an easing of some small private sector transactions, including oil sales, ostensibly to “support the Cuban people, for commercial and humanitarian use.” This move highlighted the often contradictory nature of U.S. policy, which simultaneously seeks to pressure the Cuban government while offering limited humanitarian relief. Adding another layer of international complexity, Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday characterized the incident as an “aggressive provocation by the United States,” firmly aligning with Cuba’s narrative and further fueling geopolitical tensions. Furthermore, the clash happened precisely one day after Cuban-American groups in Miami commemorated the 30th anniversary of the “Brothers to the Rescue” shootdown, a somber reminder of past deadly maritime confrontations between entities linked to Cuba and Florida.

The conflicting accounts and rapid international reactions surrounding the Cuba-Florida speedboat incident underscore the profound historical mistrust and entrenched geopolitical dynamics that continue to shape U.S.-Cuba relations. Each nation, along with its allies, is leveraging the event to reinforce its own narrative and strategic position, making objective resolution challenging and signaling a potential for further diplomatic friction in the region.