A Cuban border patrol vessel engaged in a firefight with a U.S.-registered speedboat in waters off the northern coast of Cuba on Monday, resulting in the deaths of four people aboard the boat, Cuban authorities said.
The Cuban Interior Ministry stated that the speedboat, identified as bearing Florida registration number FL7726SH, entered Cuban territorial waters and was intercepted by the border patrol. According to the ministry, the speedboat’s occupants opened fire first, prompting a response from the Cuban forces. One Cuban border patrol officer was injured in the exchange.
Ten individuals were on board the vessel, identified by Cuban authorities as U.S. Residents of Cuban origin. Seven of those individuals have been identified, with authorities continuing to work to identify the remaining three. Six of those on board were injured during the confrontation and transported to a hospital, alongside the injured Cuban officer.
Cuban officials allege that many of those on board had prior criminal records, with two individuals reportedly wanted in Cuba on terror-related charges. Authorities also stated that the speedboat was equipped with assault rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails, and bulletproof vests. They also reported the arrest of individuals who allegedly assisted in facilitating the group’s entry into Cuba prior to the incident.
The Cuban government characterized the incident as an act of “terrorism” and a violation of its territorial waters, emphasizing its commitment to defending its sovereignty. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded cautiously, stating that the U.S. Government would not base its assessment solely on Cuban authorities’ reports. He confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard have launched their own investigation. Vice President JD Vance indicated the White House is monitoring the situation closely, expressing hope that the incident is “not as serious as we fear.”
