Cuban authorities have confirmed a fifth death following a rare clash off the island's coast, where exiles aboard a Florida-registered speedboat allegedly opened fire on a Cuban patrol. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Cuba and the United States, exacerbated by the US oil embargo and ongoing legal disputes.
The Cuban Interior Ministry stated that the group comprised anti-government Cubans, some previously wanted for plotting attacks. They arrived from the US dressed in camouflage and armed with assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosives, ballistic vests, and telescopic sights. Four exiles were killed initially, and six were wounded; one of the wounded later died, bringing the death toll to five. A Cuban patrol commander was also wounded.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied any US government involvement, stating that the operation was not conducted by American personnel. He added that the US embassy in Havana would independently verify the incident. Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier ordered an investigation, expressing distrust of the Cuban government.
Cuba identified the detainees as Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castello, Cristián Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Additionally, Duniel Hernández Santos was detained on Cuban territory for allegedly receiving the infiltrators. The deceased was identified as Michel Ortega Casanova, with three others yet to be identified.
The confrontation occurred near the Florida Straits, a militarised area often used by migrants and smugglers. This incident echoes past clashes, including a 2022 event where a Cuban patrol killed one person, and another where seven migrants died. It also marks nearly 30 years since the Cuban air force shot down two planes from the exile group Brothers to the Rescue, killing four.
The shooting comes as the Trump administration eased the embargo on Venezuelan oil deliveries to Cuba, aiming to alleviate the island's energy crisis. However, tensions remain high, with the US Supreme Court hearing cases related to confiscated property and potential charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro for the 1996 killings.
