Havana, Cuba. Cuban forces killed four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-based speedboat that entered Cuban waters and opened fire on a Cuban patrol, the Cuban government said amid heightened tensions with the United States.
Cuba’s account of the incident
Cuba’s Interior Ministry said the incident occurred on Wednesday and that the wounded were evacuated and were receiving medical attention. The ministry added that the commander of the Cuban patrol was also wounded and that the matter was under investigation to clarify what happened.
Cuba said the speedboat came within one nautical mile of a channel on Falcones Cay, on the north coast of Cuba about 200 km (120 miles) east of Havana, when it was approached by five members of a Cuban border patrol unit. Cuba said the speedboat then opened fire, wounding the commander of the Cuban vessel.
Cuba said none of the dead or wounded aboard the speedboat were identified, but the vessel was registered in Florida with the number FL7726SH.
Broader context and official reactions
Cuba’s statement came as the United States has blocked virtually all oil shipments to the island, increasing pressure on Cuba’s Communist-run government. It also followed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American forces in Caracas on Jan. 3, which Cuba described as the removal from power of a key ally.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said he was ordering prosecutors to open a separate investigation in conjunction with other state and federal law enforcement partners, saying the Cuban account could not be trusted. In a Facebook post, Uthmeier said, “The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”
U.S. Representative Carlos Gimenez, a Republican whose district includes the southern tip of Florida, called for a federal investigation, saying the incident raised serious concerns about the use of lethal force against a vessel registered in the United States.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cuba’s statement on territorial waters
“Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region,” the Cuban statement said.
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