Cuban authorities reported that four former Cuban exiles were killed and six others injured after they entered Cuban waters on a speedboat registered in Florida and engaged in a confrontation with a Cuban patrol. The group, identified by Cuba’s Interior Ministry as anti-government individuals with a history of planning attacks, arrived from the United States wearing camouflage and carrying various weapons and explosives. The ministry disclosed that one additional suspect was apprehended within Cuban territory in connection with the incident.
Preliminary information from the detainees pointed to a terrorist infiltration plot, the Interior Ministry stated. The wounded individuals were promptly evacuated for medical treatment, while the Cuban patrol commander also sustained injuries in the altercation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the operation was not conducted by the U.S. government and confirmed that no U.S. government personnel were involved. He mentioned that Cuban authorities informed the U.S. about the incident, but the U.S. embassy in Havana would conduct an independent investigation to verify the details.
The clash unfolded amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, with the U.S. imposing restrictions on oil shipments to the island nation. Rubio reiterated his criticism of the Cuban government, emphasizing the need for significant change in the country.
The incident rekindled memories of past events, including the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 led by Cuban exiles backed by the CIA. While such plots have waned in recent years, recent developments have emboldened opponents of the Cuban Communist regime. The ongoing U.S. oil blockade has compounded the challenges faced by Cuba, leading to energy shortages.
Cuba released the identities of the detainees from the speedboat, highlighting two individuals previously wanted for suspected terrorist activities against Cuba. The casualties were named, with one identified as Michel Ortega Casanova and the others pending identification.
The confrontation occurred near Falcones Cay on Cuba’s north coast, approximately 200 km east of Havana, when the speedboat encountered Cuban border patrol agents. The boat reportedly fired upon the Cuban vessel, injuring the patrol commander.
Politicians in Florida expressed skepticism about the Cuban government’s account of the incident and called for separate investigations. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the initiation of an inquiry in collaboration with state and federal authorities. U.S. Representative Carlos Gimenez urged federal agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly, emphasizing the need to ascertain the identities of the victims and the sequence of events.