Four killed in Cuban waters incident

The Florida-registered speedboat was first detected approximately one nautical mile off the coast of Cayo Falcones in central Cuba. According to the Cuban government, when border guard troops approached the vessel, those on board opened fire, injuring the commander of the Cuban patrol boat. The White House has confirmed that at least one U.S. citizen was among the four killed, and another American was arrested. Cuban authorities have identified all ten individuals who were on the boat, stating they were Cuban nationals living in the U.S. The owner of the speedboat, a Carolina Skiff, reported it stolen from the Florida Keys on the same day as the incident. Cuban officials claim the vessel was armed with assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, and other tactical gear, alleging the group was attempting to "carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes." Family members of one of the deceased, Michael Ortega Casanova, stated he was passionate about liberating Cuba, though they did not believe he was part of a formal militant group. Two of the men detained by Cuban authorities, Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, were reportedly already wanted by Cuba for alleged involvement in planning terrorist acts. The U.S. State Department has stated it is conducting its own investigation to "verify that information independently and reach our own conclusions." This is not the first fatal incident in these waters. In June 2022, Cuban border guards reported a shootout with a U.S. speedboat allegedly involved in human trafficking, resulting in one death. Another incident in October 2022 involved a collision between a Cuban patrol boat and a speedboat that left seven people dead.