Deadly Gun Battle Off Cuba’s Coast — Florida-Registered Boat At Center Of Clash

The Cuban government claimed on Wednesday that a speedboat bearing a Florida registration crossed into Cuban waters on Wednesday, and then fired on Border Guard Troops as they approached the vehicle. The resulting firefight left four dead on board the speedboat.

The Cuban Embassy in the United States shared a statement on Wednesday afternoon, attributed to the Ministry of the Interior, detailing a confrontation that took place early that morning.

“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 El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province,” the statement read.

The Ministry of the Interior went on to assert that those on board the speedboat fired the first shots when Border Guard Troops approached to request proof of identification.

“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 continued. “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 injured individuals were evacuated and received medical assistance.”

The statement concluded: “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. Investigations by the competent authorities continue in order to fully clarify the events.”

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the unfolding situation.

An unnamed U.S. official told The New York Times that the speedboat was a civilian vessel and was “part of a flotilla to get relatives out of Cuba” — and also clarified that the boat did not belong to either the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Coast Guard.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeir issued a statement on the incident: “I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation. The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”

Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), former Mayor of Miami-Dade, also issued a statement: “I am calling for an immediate investigation into this massacre. United States authorities must determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred. The regime in Cuba must be relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity.”