Cuba Confirms 4 Killed in Shootout With Florida Speedboat

Incident occurred in Cuban waters, according to government statement

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Cuba's government has confirmed that four people aboard a speedboat registered in Florida were killed in a shootout with Cuban troops in Cuban territorial waters on Wednesday. According to Cuba, the people on the Florida-registered speedboat opened fire against a Cuban coast guard vessel that approached them, leading to a deadly exchange of gunfire.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, with a U.S. official stating the speedboat was part of a flotilla seeking to evacuate relatives from Cuba. The deaths of U.S. citizens or legal residents in the incident could further strain relations between the two countries.

The details

Cuba's Ministry of the Interior stated that in addition to the four people killed, six other people on board the Florida speedboat were wounded in the shootout. The commander of the Cuban coast guard vessel was also injured by gunfire. Cuba said the injured people on the Florida speedboat were evacuated and received medical attention.

  • The deadly shootout happened on Wednesday morning near an island in Cuba's Villa Clara province on the country's northern coast.

The players

Cuba's Ministry of the Interior

The Cuban government agency that released a statement about the incident.

Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez

A Cuban-American and former mayor of Miami who called the firefight a "massacre" and demanded an "immediate investigation" to determine if the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents.

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What they’re saying

“This was a massacre, and I demand an immediate investigation to determine if the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents.”

— Carlos Gimenez, Florida Representative (Miami Herald)

What’s next

Cuba's interior ministry is investigating the incident to determine the full details.

The takeaway

The deadly shootout between a Florida speedboat and Cuban forces in Cuban waters underscores the ongoing tensions and risks of confrontation between the U.S. and Cuba, with the potential loss of American lives further complicating an already strained relationship between the two countries.