Havana, Cuba – Cuban border patrol agents killed four people and wounded six others Wednesday aboard a Florida-registered speedboat that entered Cuban territorial waters and opened fire, Cuban authorities reported. The incident, occurring amid escalating tensions between Cuba and the United States, is currently under investigation.
According to a statement released by Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the speedboat, identified as bearing Florida registration number FL7726SH, was approached by a five-member border patrol unit approximately one nautical mile off Falcones Cay, a coastal area roughly 120 miles east of Havana. The Cuban patrol was fired upon, wounding the commander of the vessel, before returning fire.
The wounded individuals are receiving medical care, the ministry stated. The identities of those killed and injured have not been released.
The confrontation takes place against a backdrop of increasing hardship for the Cuban population. The U.S. has maintained a longstanding economic blockade, severely restricting oil shipments and contributing to a critical fuel shortage on the island. Recent political shifts, including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas in January – a key ally of Cuba – have further exacerbated the situation.
The Cuban government affirmed its commitment to defending its territorial waters, stating that national defense is “a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region.”
The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on the incident.
