Cuban Authorities Say A Florida-registered Speedboat

Cuban authorities say a Florida-registered speedboat entered Cuban territorial waters off the northern coast near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province and was intercepted by Cuban border guard forces.According to the Cuban Interior Ministry, the vessel registered as FL7726SH was detected approximately one nautical mile from Cuban territory.
When Cuban Border Guard troops approached to identify the boat and its passengers, the ministry says the occupants opened fire first, injuring the commander of the Cuban patrol vessel.
Cuban forces returned fire, killing four people aboard the speedboat and wounding six others. The injured were taken into custody and received medical care.
Cuba claims all those aboard were Cuban nationals living in the United States, some allegedly with history of violent activity:
Names released by Cuban officials include Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, and Michel Ortega Casanova (one of the four killed). Cuban authorities allege the group was armed with rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, and camouflage gear and was attempting an armed “infiltration” for “terrorist purposes Another man Duniel Hernández Santos was arrested inside Cuba and reportedly confessed to helping coordinate the operation. Cuba says it is still investigating the incident to identify the remaining dead and clarify the purpose of the mission The Cuban government framed the encounter as a defensive action to protect territorial sovereignty and security, stressing that Cuban forces acted after being fired upon.
It remains committed to defending its waters against threats.
The confrontation highlights ongoing tension with the United States amid political disputes and economic pressures.
U.S. officials have not confirmed Cuba’s account and are conducting their own inquiries Secretary of State Marco Rubio (a Cuban-American politician) said the U.S. will independently investigate the incident or gather facts through U.S. agencies. He stressed no U.S. government personnel were involved. Florida state officials including Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Congressman Carlos Gimenez have called for investigations, questioning Cuba’s narrative and calling for transparency The U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security were reported to be involved in fact-finding and checking who was aboard the vessel. This incident comes amid a volatile period in U.S.Cuba relations:
Tensions have risen partly due to U.S. sanctions affecting Cuban energy supplies and broader geopolitical disagreements.
Cuba accuses the U.S. of exerting pressure and violating its sovereignty, while U.S. officials call for independent verification of the shooting. Authorities on both sides continue investigations:
Cuba is probing the exact motive of the speedboat’s voyage and the identities of the passengers.
U.S. agencies are gathering independent information and determining citizenship status of those killed or wounded.