Four individuals were killed and six others sustained injuries aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat during an exchange of gunfire off the island’s coast, the Interior Ministry reported on Wednesday.
The ministry stated that a Cuban patrol vessel approached the Florida-registered boat to identify its occupants when shots were fired from the boat, injuring the captain of the Cuban craft.
According to Havana’s statement, the boat, identified by the number FL7726SH, was detected within Cuban territorial waters on Wednesday morning on the northeast side of the El Pino channel near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province.
Cuban forces moved in to inspect the vessel, but the “crew of the violating speedboat opened fire,” leading to return fire from Cuban forces.
“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 ministry announced, adding that the injured individuals were evacuated and are receiving medical attention.
“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.”
The ministry also indicated that an investigation would be conducted to fully clarify the events.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also announced on X that he had directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to collaborate with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to initiate an investigation.
In his statement, Uthmeier expressed distrust in the Cuban government and pledged that his office would “do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”
The incident occurred while Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Caribbean for a summit of the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Senator Marco Rubio is meeting with regional leaders for closed-door discussions on security, economic cooperation, and shared concerns regarding U.S. policies in the hemisphere.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.