US-flagged boat enters Cuban waters and opens fire: Fatalities and injuries reported
Illustrative photo: Cuban border guards shot dead four people on a boat flying a US flag (Getty Images)
The Ministry of the Interior of Cuba said that four people aboard a high-speed boat flying a US flag were shot dead after being intercepted in Cuban waters, BBC reports.
Read also: US-Cuba tensions escalate as State Department accuses Havana of intimidation
The Cuban Ministry reported that the vessel, registered in Florida under the number FL7726SH, was spotted on the morning of Wednesday, February 25, near Cayo Falcones in the central province of Villa Clara.
When a Cuban Coast Guard boat with five crew members approached the vessel to identify it, the crew of the high-speed boat, which had violated Cuban waters, opened fire, wounding the Cuban commander.
"As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six injured," the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.
The injured were evacuated and received medical assistance.
The BBC contacted the White House and the US State Department for comment. The outlet also noted that the incident comes amid growing tensions between the US and Cuba, which has been facing a fuel crisis after Washington blocked oil shipments from Venezuela.
US–Cuba relations
Earlier in 2026, relations between the US and Cuba intensified. Amid the new crisis, US President Donald Trump approved a memorandum to strengthen sanctions against the island.
In particular, Cuba was once again added to the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and strict restrictions on financial transactions with Cuban companies were reinstated. In Havana, following threats from the White House, officials stated that they are not engaging in any negotiations with the US government.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel strongly responded to Trump’s calls for a deal with Washington, emphasizing that external pressure is unacceptable for his country.
Additionally, on January 30, Trump declared a national emergency over a threat to US national security originating from Cuba. Havana responded that the only real threat to peace, security, and stability in the region comes from US policies.
