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2026 Cuban boat incident

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2026 Cuban boat incident
Part of the 2026 Cuban crisis

Satellite image of Cayo Falcones, Cuba
Date25 February 2026 (2026-02-25)
Location
near Villa Clara Province, Cuba
Result Cuban victory
Parties involved
Armed suspects on a US-registered boat Cuba
Commanders and leaders
Duniel Hernández Santos (POW)[1]
Casualties and losses
4 killed, 6 injured 1 injured

On 25 February 2026, an armed maritime confrontation occurred between a patrol vessel of the Cuban Border Guard Troops and a speedboat registered in the United States near Cayo Falcones, off the northern coast of Villa Clara Province, within Cuban territorial waters. Cuban authorities stated that the occupants of the speedboat opened fire after being intercepted, wounding the commanding officer of the patrol vessel. Cuban forces returned fire, killing four people and wounding six others aboard the speedboat.

Cuban officials reported the seizure of firearms, incendiary devices, ballistic protection, and military-style clothing, alleging that the group was attempting an armed infiltration. The United States denied any involvement and launched federal and state investigations. At least one of the deceased was confirmed to be a U.S. citizen, and Cuban authorities later announced the arrest of a seventh suspect on land, accused of providing logistical support.

Incident

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According to Cuban authorities, in the morning hours[2] of 25 February 2026, a 24-foot Proline speedboat registered in the state of Florida was detected operating approximately one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, near Cayo Falcones, in the municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara Province, placing it within Cuban territorial waters.[3][4]

A Cuban patrol consisting of five members of the Cuban Coast Guard[4] approached and challenged the vessel.[5] Cuban authorities claimed that individuals aboard the speedboat opened fire first, wounding the commanding officer of the patrol craft.[6] Cuban forces then returned fire, killing four men and wounding six others aboard the speedboat.[7][8]

Cuban officials reported that assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, night-vision devices, counterrevolutionary insignia, bulletproof vests, and camouflage clothing were found aboard the intercepted vessel, asserting that the occupants were engaged in a hostile paramilitary operation.[9][better source needed][10]

The six wounded survivors were transported under armed guard to a hospital in Santa Clara, where they remained in custody as of 26 February. Cuban authorities confirmed that direct communication had taken place with U.S. officials following the incident.[11]

Casualties and identification

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Cuban authorities later identified seven of the boatmen, stating that at least two of the wounded detainees were already wanted in Cuba in connection with previous violent plots, including the planning, financing, and execution of armed actions.[1][12][11] According to reporting by The Washington Post, the group was affiliated with Autodefensa del Pueblo (ADP), a small militant Cuban exile organization based in Florida.[13]

Cuban state media described the occupants of the speedboat as Cuban nationals.[4] At least one of the deceased, Michel Ortega Casanova, was confirmed by relatives to be a United States citizen.[7] According to his brother, Casanova had developed an apparent obsession with overthrowing the Cuban government and had been attempting to recruit others in Florida.[14]

According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the speedboat used in the incident had been reported stolen.[14] U.S. federal authorities later confirmed that the vessel was stolen from the Florida Keys and that its registered owner denied any involvement in the incident.[10]

Arrest on Cuban territory

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Cuban officials announced the arrest of Duniel Hernández Santos inside Cuba, accusing him of providing logistical support for the armed infiltration attempt. Authorities stated that Hernández had confessed to involvement in organizing the operation.[1]

Reactions

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  •  Cuba: The Cuban government alleged that the boatmen had been sent by the United States in order to stoke conflict, and announced the arrest of Duniel Hernández Santos, whom it stated had confessed to involvement.[12] Cuba accused the ten suspects of planning "an infiltration with terrorist aims".[15]
  •  United States: Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated shortly after the incident that he had received reports of it and had initiated an investigation. At a press conference, Rubio said that several U.S. agencies had launched investigations, with the goal of obtaining independent information, noting that much of what was known at that point had come from the Cuban government. He denied U.S. involvement in the incident.[12]
    •  Florida: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier ordered a state-level criminal investigation, stating that Cuban authorities' claims required independent verification.[16] Members of the U.S. Congress from Florida, including Carlos Giménez and Rick Scott, called for a thorough federal investigation and questioned the Cuban government's account of events.[9]
  •  Russia: Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman characterized the incident as an "aggressive provocation by the United States" aimed at escalating tensions and triggering a conflict, according to the state-run TASS news agency.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Staff, Al Jazeera. "Cuban border agents fire upon Florida-tagged speedboat, killing four". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Cuba: American motorboat fired upon - four dead". Sweden Herald. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Cuban patrol kills four on Florida-registered boat as US tensions rise". euronews. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Mazzei, Patricia; Robles, Frances; Nicas, Jack; Schmitt, Eric (25 February 2026). "Florida Boat in Gunfight Carried Cubans Intent on 'Infiltration,' Cuba Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Cuba Updates: Interior Ministry Says Troops Kill 4 and Wound 6 on Florida Speedboat". New York Times. 25 February 2026.
  6. ^ Dehghanpisheh, Babak (25 February 2026). "Cuba says four killed after U.S. boat violates territorial waters". NBC News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b "Cuba says 4 killed in speedboat shooting were attempting to infiltrate the country". AP News. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  8. ^ Debusmann Jr, Bernd. "Four shot dead on US-registered speedboat by Cuban border guard". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Four passengers on US speedboat shot dead by Cuban coastguard as 'assault rifles and Molotov cocktails found on board'". The Sun. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  10. ^ a b Rodríguez, Andrea; Durán, Milexsy; Coto, Dánica (26 February 2026). "Cuba says it is communicating with US after fatal boat shooting but seeks more details". AP News. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  11. ^ a b Fuentes, Mario (26 February 2026). "Cuba slams US for 'impunity' on speedboat attack suspects". Reuters. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  12. ^ a b c "Cuba says boat from Florida opened fire at its soldiers, starting fight that killed 4". AP News. 25 February 2026. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  13. ^ "How obsession to 'liberate Cuba' led men on deadly speedboat journey". The Washington Post. 26 February 2026. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  14. ^ a b Patterson, Jeff; Rodriguez, Nathaniel (26 February 2026). "Tampa man killed in Cuban boat shootout wanted to overthrow island's government, loved ones say". WFLA - News Channel 8. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Cuba says group shot on US-registered speedboat planned 'armed infiltration'". www.bbc.com. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  16. ^ García, Victoria (25 February 2026). "Cuba abate a cuatro ocupantes de una lancha rápida norteamericana". Cadena SER (in European Spanish). Retrieved 26 February 2026.
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