Cuba announced it shot and killed four people on an American-registered boat that was in the island’s waters.
On Wednesday morning, “a violating speedboat was detected within Cuban territorial waters,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement posted on social media.
The boat was registered in Florida, the Cuban government said. It was intercepted by Cuban forces when “the crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in the injury of the commander of the Cuban vessel.”
Cuban border guards returned fire.
“Four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six were injured. The injured individuals were evacuated and received medical assistance,” the Interior Ministry said.
It’s unclear who owned the boat or if Americans were on board.
Note from the Ministry of the Interior:
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… pic.twitter.com/AEmwtAZ4lO
— Cuban Embassy in US (@EmbaCubaUS) February 25, 2026
Cuba is investigating. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced he was also opening one.
“I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation,” he said in a statement on X.
“The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”
The White House and State Department did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez, who represents Miami-Dade, called the incident a “massacre” and for the abolishment of Miguel Díaz-Canel’s presidency.
“This regime must be relegated to the dust bin of history!,” he said in a statement.
The killing took place one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, according to the Cuban government.
The El Pino channel sits directly south of Florida, off the north side of Cuba. It is frequently used for maritime traffic and known to be patrolled by the Cuban government.
