4 killed as Cuban forces open fire on U.S. registered boat

Feb 26, 2026 News

…6 others wounded after vessel illegally entered Cuban territorial waters

(NBC NEWS) Cuban officials said a U.S.-registered speedboat violated their territorial waters, kicking off an armed confrontation with Cuban border guard troops in which four people on the vessel were killed.

Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior posted a statement about the confrontation on Facebook.

U.S. officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Cuba says four killed after U.S. boat violates territorial waters

The incident took place near an island in Cuba’s Villa Clara province, on its northern coast.

A commander of the Cuban border guard was injured and six people on the U.S.-registered vessel were also injured, the statement said.

The statement noted that the people on the U.S.-registered vessel had initiated the firefight, which took place one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel off of Cuba’s north coast.

“When a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior, carrying five service members, approached the vessel for identification, the crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in the injury of the commander of the Cuban vessel,” the statement said.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said he had ordered an investigation into the incident.

“I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation,” he said in a post on X. “The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla. also called for an investigation.

“United States authorities must determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred,” Gimenez said in a statement.

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Cuba, Cuban border guard troops, territorial waters, U.S. boat

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