Cuba’s coast guard shot dead four people and wounded six others aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat in an exchange of gunfire off the communist island’s coast, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.
In a statement, the ministry said a Cuban patrol vessel had approached the Florida-registered boat to identify those on board when shots were fired from the boat, wounding the captain of the Cuban craft.
RUBIO HOLDING SECRET TALKS WITH RAUL CASTRO’S GRANDSON OVER CUBA’S FUTURE: REPORT
According to Havana’s statement, the boat was detected within Cuban territorial waters Wednesday morning on the northeast side of the El Pino channel near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province.
Cuban border troops moved in to inspect the vessel, but the “crew of the violating speedboat opened fire,” prompting return fire from Cuban forces.
“As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six were injured,” the ministry said, adding that the injured were evacuated and are receiving medical care.
“In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.”
It also said investigations are ongoing to fully clarify the events.
POST-MADURO, PRESSURE BUILDS ON MEXICO OVER CUBA’S NEW OIL LIFELINE
According to data retrieved by Fox News Digital, the vessel, registered in Florida with number FL7726SH — is a 24-foot Pro-Line boat.
A source told Fox News that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement contacted the Miami-based owner, who confirmed the vessel had been docked at a marina in the Florida Keys.
After being notified by authorities, the owner — who is not considered a suspect — reported the boat stolen.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also announced on X that he had directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to start an investigation.
SANCTIONED RUSSIAN JET TOUCHES DOWN IN CUBA, ECHOING SECRET FLIGHTS BEFORE MADURO’S OUSTER
In his statement, Uthmeier said the Cuban government “cannot be trusted” and vowed that his office would “do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”
The incident happened while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in the Caribbean for a summit of the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Rubio was meeting regional leaders for closed-door talks on security, economic cooperation and shared concerns about U.S. policies in the hemisphere.
Later Wednesday, he told reporters that the U.S. was not going to base conclusions on “what they’ve told us,” before adding that it would “respond appropriately based on what that information tells us.”
“We don’t generally make decisions in the United States on the basis of what the Cuban authorities are saying,” Rubio clarified.
CUBA’S PRESIDENT DEFIANT, SAYS NO NEGOTIATIONS SCHEDULED AS TRUMP MOVES TO CHOKE OFF OIL LIFELINE
Referring to the details already supplied by Cuba, Rubio said they were “the things we’re going to we’re going to independently verify.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., called for an “immediate investigation” Wednesday in a statement.
“I am calling for an immediate investigation into this massacre. United States authorities must determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred,” Gimenez said.
“The regime in Cuba must be relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity,” he added.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said he agreed with Rep. Carlos Gimenez, writing on X: “We need a full investigation into this deeply concerning situation and to determine what happened. The Communist Cuban regime must be held accountable!”
VENEZUELAN OIL SHIPMENTS SURGE TO US PORTS WITH HEAVY CRUDE AFTER MADURO CAPTURE
Vice President JD Vance also said he was briefed by Rubio regarding the Cuba situation but indicated that details remain limited.
“We don’t know a lot of details,” Vance told reporters before adding that the administration is closely monitoring the situation.
“Certainly, you know, it’s a situation that we’re monitoring. Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be, but I can’t say more because I just don’t know more,” Vance said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Cuban coast guard kills 4 in exchange of fire with US-registered boat 2026 IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-02-25 19:38:58 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
