OFF THE COAST OF CUBA — Tensions between Washington and Havana reached a boiling point this week after a deadly maritime confrontation left four dead and six wounded aboard a Florida-registered speedboat.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Cuban border guards intercepted the vessel one nautical mile off Cayo Falcones, alleging the crew was part of a paramilitary mission to spark an "armed uprising" on the island.
The incident, occurring amid a crippling energy crisis and a U.S. oil blockade, has drawn chilling comparisons to the 1996 "Brothers to the Rescue" shoot-down.
**The Incident: Firefight at Sea
According to the Cuban Interior Ministry, the confrontation began early Wednesday morning when a 24-foot Pro-Line speedboat (Registration: FL7726SH) was detected in territorial waters near the province of Villa Clara.
- The First Shot: Havana claims that when their patrol boat approached for identification, the occupants of the speedboat opened fire first, wounding the Cuban commander.
- **The Return Fire: **Cuban forces retaliated with lethal force. Of the 10 people on board, four were killed and the remaining six were wounded and taken into custody at a hospital in Santa Clara.
- **The Arsenal: **Cuban authorities reported seizing assault rifles, handguns, improvised explosive devices (Molotov cocktails), night-vision goggles, and military camouflage from the vessel.
The Occupants: U.S. Citizens and Exiles
While Havana initially described all 10 as "Cuban nationals residing in the U.S.," the White House has since confirmed that at least one U.S. citizen was among the dead and another was among the injured.
- **Michel Ortega Casanova: **A 20-year resident of the U.S. and a naturalized citizen, Casanova was identified as one of the deceased. His brother, Misael, told reporters that Michel had become "obsessively" devoted to overthrowing the Cuban government.
- **Amijail Sánchez González: **One of the detainees and leader of the "Auto Defensa del Pueblo" (People’s Self-Defense) group.
- **The Logistical Link: **An 11th suspect, Duniel Hernández Santos, was arrested on Cuban soil. Authorities claim he confessed to being sent from the U.S. to coordinate the infiltration.
Washington’s Response: "Highly Unusual"
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Saint Kitts and Nevis, called the shooting "highly unusual" and emphasized that it was not a U.S. government operation.
- **The Stolen Boat: **The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the speedboat was reported stolen from the Florida Keys. The owner denied any involvement, suggesting an employee may have taken the vessel without permission.
- **Independent Investigation: **Rubio stated the U.S. would not take Havana’s word at face value. "We’re going to find out exactly what happened here and we’ll respond accordingly," he warned.
A Region on the Brink
This clash follows a series of aggressive moves by the Trump administration, including the abduction of Nicolás Maduro last month and a total blockade of oil shipments to Cuba.
As the island faces mass blackouts and food shortages, President Miguel Díaz-Canel has vowed to defend Cuban sovereignty with "firmness against mercenary aggression."
The shooting took place just one day after the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue incident, a timing that many in the Cuban exile community believe was not a coincidence.