Cuba and U.S. Exchange After Fatal Speedboat Shootout
Cuba says it is exchanging information with U.S. officials after a Florida-registered speedboat encounter left four dead, six wounded and at least one U.S. citizen killed.
Overview
Cuba's deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said his government is communicating with U.S. officials and is willing to exchange information after a fatal shootout involving a Florida-registered speedboat.
Cuba's Interior Ministry said a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed people opened fire on soldiers off the island's north coast, and troops returned fire, killing four and wounding six, the ministry said.
A U.S. official said at least one American citizen was killed and another wounded in the incident, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard are investigating.
Cuban authorities said they recovered assault and sniper rifles, pistols, night-vision equipment, explosives and tactical gear from the boat, and a Monroe County Sheriff's Office report said the 24-foot vessel had been reported stolen from the Florida Keys.
Cossío said Cuba will request information from U.S. authorities about the suspects and how the trip was organized, and that more details will be provided in the coming days as investigations continue.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a U.S.-Cuba confrontation, foregrounding U.S. officials' caution and Cuban-American perspectives while incorporating Cuban government accusations as attributed claims. Editorial choices—leading with U.S. casualties, privileging exile and family voices, and emphasizing details like a stolen boat—tilt coverage toward U.S. interests and skepticism of Havana.
Sources (26)
FAQ
Cuban authorities claimed the 10 men aboard the speedboat intended to carry out a terrorist infiltration of Cuba. They based this assertion on several factors: the men allegedly opened fire first on Cuban border guards, and Cuban officials seized weapons and military equipment including assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopes, and camouflage uniforms from the vessel.[1][2] Cuban state media reported that preliminary declarations from the detained survivors indicated an intent to enter Cuba for terrorist purposes.[1] However, the U.S. government has not independently verified these claims, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating the Trump administration would conduct its own investigation rather than accepting the Cuban government's account at face value.[5]
The 24-foot Proline speedboat, registered in Florida, was detected approximately 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel near Cayo Falcones in Cuban territorial waters on February 25, 2026.[2] Cuban officials announced the arrest of Duniel Hernández Santos inside Cuba, accusing him of providing logistical support for the armed infiltration attempt, with authorities stating that Hernández confessed to involvement in organizing the operation.[2] Additionally, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported that the vessel had been stolen from the Florida Keys.[4] Cuba's deputy foreign minister stated his government would request information from U.S. authorities about how the trip was organized, with more details expected as investigations continue.[5]
Yes, U.S. citizens were involved in the incident. The White House confirmed to CBS News that U.S. citizens and legal residents were aboard the speedboat, with at least one U.S. citizen killed in the shootout and another wounded.[4] Michel Ortega Casanova, one of the four deceased, was confirmed by relatives to be a United States citizen.[2] A White House official also confirmed that at least one U.S. citizen is currently in Cuban custody.[4] This has prompted the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard to investigate the incident.[4]
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard are conducting their own independent investigation into the incident.[4] Rubio emphasized that the Trump administration would not simply accept the Cuban government's account, saying "We're gonna find out. We're not gonna base our conclusions on what they've told us. I'm very very confident that we will know the full story of what happened here."[5] U.S. authorities were not yet in possession of the boat and had not yet spoken with individuals involved in the confrontation as of the initial investigation announcement.[5] Cuba's deputy foreign minister indicated his government is willing to exchange information with U.S. officials.[4]
Cuban authorities reported seizing an extensive cache of military equipment and weapons from the vessel, including assault rifles, sniper rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails (homemade explosive devices), bulletproof vests, night-vision equipment, telescopes, and camouflage uniforms.[1][2][4] The recovery of this tactical and weaponry equipment supported Cuban officials' contention that the occupants were engaged in a hostile paramilitary operation.[2]
History
This story does not have any previous versions.