Cuban troops kill four in shootout with Florida-registered speedboat in territorial waters
Cuban authorities have confirmed that four people were killed and six others wounded after a Florida-registered speedboat entered Cuban waters and opened fire on government soldiers, triggering a deadly shootout off the island’s north coast.
In a statement released late Wednesday, Cuba’s government said the 10 passengers aboard the vessel were armed Cubans living in the United States who were allegedly attempting to infiltrate the country to carry out acts of terrorism. Officials claimed most of the individuals had “a known history of criminal and violent activity.”
The incident occurred about one mile northeast of Cayo Falcones, where Cuban forces said the boat opened fire first, injuring one Cuban officer. Soldiers returned fire, killing four people and wounding the remaining six.
Cuban authorities identified two of the suspects as Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, who they said are wanted in connection with terrorist-related activities. Another individual, Duniel Hernandez Santos, was reportedly arrested and accused of being sent from the United States to facilitate the armed infiltration. Several other passengers were also named, while three of the deceased remain unidentified.
The Associated Press said it was unable to independently verify the claims made by Cuban officials, who said the information was obtained from suspects detained after the shootout. The Interior Ministry stated that investigations are ongoing to fully clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Reacting to the development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is gathering its own intelligence to determine whether any of the victims were American citizens or permanent residents. Speaking in Basseterre, St Kitts, Rubio said the US would not rely solely on information provided by Cuban authorities and confirmed that the US Coast Guard and the US Department of Homeland Security are conducting investigations.
“This is highly unusual. Shootouts on the open sea like this are not something that happens every day, especially involving Cuba,” Rubio said, stressing that the incident was not a US government operation.
US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that he had been briefed on the situation and said the White House was closely monitoring developments.
The shooting threatens to further strain already tense relations between Washington and Havana. Since the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the administration of US President Donald Trump has taken a tougher stance on Cuba, including economic measures linked to oil supplies and trade.
Meanwhile, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said he had ordered prosecutors to work with federal and state agencies to launch an investigation into the incident, adding that Florida authorities would cooperate with law enforcement partners to establish the facts.
While skirmishes between Cuban patrol forces and US-flagged speedboats have occurred in the past, such incidents rarely involve exchanges of gunfire or fatalities. Investigations on both sides are continuing as officials work to determine exactly what happened in Cuban waters.
