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By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
HAVANA, Cuba — A deadly confrontation erupted in Cuban territorial waters on Wednesday morning, leaving four people dead and six wounded aboard a Florida-registered speedboat after a violent exchange of fire with the Cuban Border Guard.
The incident occurred approximately one nautical mile off Falcones Cay in the Villa Clara province. According to a statement released by Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior, Cuban service members approached the vessel to request identification after it was detected entering the island’s territory. As the coast guard vessel drew near, the occupants of the American speedboat reportedly opened fire, injuring the Cuban commander.
Note from the Ministry of the Interior:
On the morning of February 25, 2026, a violating speedboat was detected within Cuban territorial waters. The vessel, registered in Florida, United States, with registration number FL7726SH, approached up to 1 nautical mile northeast of the… pic.twitter.com/AEmwtAZ4lO
— Cuban Embassy in US (@EmbaCubaUS) February 25, 2026
A Lethal Escalation
In the ensuing firefight, Cuban forces returned fire. “As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed, and six were injured,” the Ministry of the Interior confirmed. The wounded individuals were evacuated to a local medical facility for treatment.
While the identities of the deceased have not been officially released, early reports suggest they were U.S. citizens. The State Department has declined to comment on the specific details of the incident, though it is currently monitoring the situation.
Tensions at a Breaking Point
The shooting comes at a moment of extreme geopolitical friction between Washington and Havana. The Trump administration has recently intensified economic pressure on the island, including a virtual oil blockade following the U.S.-backed ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.
While President Trump recently signaled a slight softening of the oil trade ban for “humanitarian use,” the overall relationship remains hostile. Under current U.S. law, American vessels are strictly prohibited from entering Cuban waters without explicit permits from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Commerce. Failure to comply can result in boat seizures, imprisonment, and daily fines of up to $25,000.
Sovereignty and Stability
The Cuban government has characterized the incident as a defense of its national borders. “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,” the Ministry stated.
In Florida, the incident has sparked immediate outrage among the Cuban-American community. Critics of the Havana regime have called for a swift response from the White House, while others caution that the “chaotic” nature of the encounter, with shots fired first from the civilian vessel, may complicate the legal and diplomatic fallout.
As of Wednesday evening, the Florida-registered boat (registration FL7726SH) remains in Cuban custody as authorities continue their investigation into why the vessel was traveling so close to the north-central coast.