A dramatic and deadly incident off Cuba’s northern coast has reignited deep tensions between the island nation and the United States. Late Wednesday, Cuban authorities reported a shootout involving a Florida-registered speedboat that had entered Cuban waters, leading to significant casualties.
According to Cuba’s government, soldiers engaged a boat whose ten passengers allegedly opened fire first, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to six others, including one Cuban officer. Cuba claims the passengers were armed Cuban-Americans from the U.S., attempting to infiltrate the island to “unleash terrorism.” They further allege that many aboard have a history of criminal activity and identified some as wanted for terrorism-related actions, even arresting one alleged facilitator who reportedly confessed.
However, the U.S. is not accepting Cuba’s account without question. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the incident, stating the U.S. government is independently gathering information and verifying if any victims are American citizens or permanent residents. Rubio emphasized this was *not* a U.S. government operation and called the shootout “highly unusual,” stressing that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard are actively investigating to ascertain the facts beyond what Cuban authorities have provided.
This incident unfolds amidst already heightened tensions between the two nations, with the U.S. recently adopting a more aggressive stance towards Cuba, pushing for “dramatic reforms” and imposing economic pressures. Florida’s Attorney General has also launched a state investigation, declaring the Cuban government untrustworthy. While skirmishes happen, a shootout with fatalities of this nature is unprecedented in recent memory, leaving many questions unanswered as investigations continue on both sides.
