Four people have been shot dead after a speedboat registered in Florida ‘opened fire’ on the Cuban border guard.
Six people on the boat were injured after it entered waters close to Cayo Falcones on the Caribbean island on Wednesday morning.
Cuban authorities claim that the occupants of the boat opened fire on coast guard injuring the commander.
They then returned fire, killing four of the crew.
It remains unclear what the speedboat was doing in Cuban waters with the Cuban government launching an investigation.
A Cuban Ministry of the Interior spokesperson said: ‘On the morning of February 25, 2026, a violating speedboat was detected within Cuban territorial waters.
‘The vessel, registered in Florida, United States, with registration number FL7726SH, approached up to 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.
‘When a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior, carrying five service members, approached the vessel for identification, the crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in the injury of the commander of the Cuban vessel.
‘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 injured individuals were evacuated and received medical assistance.’
They added: ‘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. Investigations by the competent authorities continue in order to fully clarify the events.’
The deaths come as historic tensions between the US and Cuba have ramped up under Donald Trump’s administration.
The economic crisis gripping Cuba since 2020 has been compounded by intensified US sanctions aimed at forcing a change in the island’s political model.
These pressures led to critical shortages and severe blackouts that peaked in early 2026.
Because Cuba produces only 40% of its required fuel, it remains highly vulnerable to external blockades. While strong allies like Russia and China have condemned the U.S. measures, their support has remained largely symbolic thus far.
This is a breaking news story… More to follow…
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