Cuban border guards killed four people on a Florida-registered speedboat early Wednesday, the Communist regime announced.
The Cuban Embassy in the U.S. said in a statement posted to X that the violating speedboat entered Cuban territorial waters and was approached by a Border Guard surface unit for identification purposes. The embassy said the speedboat crew opened fire on the border guards, injuring the Cuban vessel commander, which resulted in border guards killing four and injured six of the crew members.
The ship approached one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, and Villa Clara province, according to the statement.
“In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region,” said the Cuban Embassy in the U.S. on X. “Investigations by the competent authorities continue in order to fully clarify the events.”
Republican Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez shared the embassy’s statement on X, expressing skepticism towards the Cuban government’s framing of the incident. Gimenez accused the Cuban government of “attacking a boat from Florida” and “murdered those on board.”
“Authorities have confirmed that the intercepted speedboat, registered in the State of Florida under number FL7726SH, was carrying 10 armed individuals who, according to preliminary statements by those detained, intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes,” the Cuban Embassy said in a statement sent to the Daily Caller News Foundation post-publication.
“The following items were seized: assault rifles, handguns, improvised explosive devices (Molotov cocktails), body armor, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms,” the embassy’s statement added.
The State Department did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
The U.S. outhern Command (SOUTHCOM) told the DCNF that all questions pertaining to the incident are being directed to the US State Department.
President Donald Trump threatened to cut off Cuba from oil and money a week after the capture and arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump wrote in Truth Social post in January.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced in late January that the Mexican state oil company Pemex would halt oil shipments to Cuba. It is speculated this move would intensify Cuba’s energy crisis as oil from Venezuela no longer goes to Cuba after Maduro’s arrest.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the later statement from the Cuban Embassy sent post-publication.
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