Havana has said the armed “aggressors” opened fire on personnel during an identification check

Four armed men traveling in a US-registered speedboat have been killed after opening fire on Cuban border guard forces in the island’s territorial waters, according to Cuban officials. The incident escalates already strained relations between Havana and Washington.

According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the incident occurred on Wednesday near the northern coast of Villa Clara province, when coast guard units intercepted a Florida-registered speedboat operating roughly one nautical mile from shore.

The vessel reportedly entered Cuban waters illegally and was approached for identification before gunfire broke out.

Cuban authorities said individuals aboard the speedboat opened fire first, wounding the commander of a Cuban patrol vessel. Border guards returned fire, killing four people and injuring six others, who were later evacuated for medical treatment.

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

Cuban officials said an investigation is underway to determine the vessel’s purpose and motives for approaching the coastline. Havana reiterated that defending territorial waters remains a “fundamental pillar” of national sovereignty following the incident.

Source: RT - Daily news