Cuban Forces Kill Four, Wound Six in Clash with Exiles at Sea
HAVANA — Cuban forces killed four exiles and wounded six others who sailed into Cuban waters aboard a Florida-registered speedboat and opened fire on a Cuban patrol, the country’s government said on February 25, 2026. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Cuba and the United States.
Details of the Confrontation
According to Cuban officials, the group comprised anti-government Cubans, some of whom were previously wanted for plotting attacks. They were armed with assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosives, ballistic vests, and telescopic sights. The confrontation took place near an island in Cuba’s Villa Clara province.
The Cuban Interior Ministry stated that the exiles departed from Marathon, Florida Keys, on two vessels, but abandoned one due to technical issues. They consolidated onto a single speedboat, which was later identified as stolen in Florida Reuters.
The Cuban patrol, consisting of five border guard members on a 9-meter boat, spotted the incoming vessel approximately one nautical mile off a cay on the Caribbean island’s northern coast, about 160km from Marathon. The exiles initiated the exchange of fire at a distance of 185 meters, striking the captain of the Cuban vessel in the abdomen The Guardian.
Despite being wounded, the captain steered toward the exiles’ vessel, leading to a close-range firefight at approximately 20 meters. Cuban authorities described their response as “proportional,” emphasizing that the use of firearms was limited to self-defense The Guardian.
Armaments Recovered
Cuban officials displayed the captured armaments on television, including 12,846 rounds of ammunition, 13 rifles, and 11 pistols. They also recovered a drone, radios, knives, a portable power plant, bolt cutters, and emblems associated with anti-communist groups, the November 30th Movement and People’s Self-Defense Reuters.
U.S. Response
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the incident was not a U.S. Operation and that no U.S. Government personnel were involved. He indicated that the U.S. Embassy in Havana would independently investigate the matter to verify the Cuban account Reuters.
Legal Consequences
The captured Cuban nationals face charges including armed aggression, illegal entry into national territory, crimes associated with terrorist acts, and arms trafficking. Prosecutor Edward Robert Campbell stated that they could face prison terms of 10 to 15 years for lesser offenses and 20 to 30 years, or even the death penalty, for more serious charges Reuters.
Context of Rising Tensions
This confrontation occurs during a period of increased tension between the U.S. And Cuba, exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, including a virtual oil blockade following the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a key Cuban ally The Guardian.
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