Four individuals were killed, and six others sustained injuries when Cuban forces fired upon a speedboat from the United States that approached the coast of Villa Clara. The vessel, registered in Florida, was found operating in Cuban waters on February 25. Upon being approached by Cuban border troops for identification, the crew on the speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in injuries to the Cuban vessel’s commander.
The Cuban Interior Ministry stated that during the confrontation, four individuals on the foreign vessel were killed, and six were wounded. The injured were promptly evacuated and provided medical treatment. The incident took place near the El Pino channel in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.
Emphasizing the protection of its territorial waters, Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior reiterated its commitment to national defense as a vital aspect of safeguarding sovereignty and regional stability. Investigations into the event are currently underway.
A US official clarified that the involved boat was a civilian vessel from the US, part of a flotilla aimed at evacuating relatives from Cuba, and not affiliated with the US Navy or Coast Guard. This incident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the US and Cuba, exacerbated by a fuel crisis in Cuba due to restricted oil shipments from Venezuela, a significant regional ally.
Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez condemned the incident as a “massacre” and called for a thorough investigation. Concerned about the victims’ identities, he urged US authorities to ascertain whether any were American citizens or legal residents. Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, pledged to pursue a rigorous investigation, citing a lack of trust in the Cuban government and vowing to hold them accountable.
Similarly, Florida Republican Rick Scott demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the unsettling event and stressed the importance of holding the Communist Cuban regime responsible for its actions.
