Deadly Encounter in Cuban Waters Highlights Tensions with Exiles

Boat carrying armed Cuban expatriates intercepted by Cuban military, resulting in deaths and injuries.

Feb. 27, 2026 at 5:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Cuban government has reported a deadly encounter between its troops and a boat carrying armed Cuban expatriates near the island nation. The incident has cast a spotlight on the ongoing tensions between Cuba and Cuban Americans living in the U.S. who harbor aspirations of a counter-revolution, 67 years after the Cuban revolution. Four people were killed and six were wounded when the Cuban military confronted the speedboat as it approached the island.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the long-simmering tensions between Cuba and Cuban exiles in the U.S. who still harbor hopes of overthrowing the communist government. It also comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Cuba as the Trump administration has tightened the embargo and threatened further action against Cuba's allies. The encounter raises questions about the extent of anti-Castro sentiment among some Cuban Americans and the potential for further armed confrontations.

The details

According to the Cuban government, the speedboat was carrying 10 people, including Michel Ortega Casanova, who was killed in the confrontation. Ortega Casanova's brother in Miami described him as being on an "obsessive and diabolical" quest for Cuba's freedom. The boat was also carrying two men wanted by Cuba for their alleged involvement in promoting, planning, or supporting terrorism. Cuban authorities said the boat was registered in Florida and contained assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosives, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms.

  • The incident occurred on February 27, 2026.

The players

Michel Ortega Casanova

A Cuban American who was killed in the confrontation with Cuban troops. He had lived in the U.S. for over 20 years and was described by his brother as being on an "obsessive and diabolical" quest for Cuba's freedom.

Misael Ortega Casanova

The brother of Michel Ortega Casanova, who expressed surprise and devastation over his brother's involvement in the incident.

Amijail Sánchez González

One of the two men on the boat who are wanted by the Cuban government for their alleged involvement in promoting, planning, or supporting terrorism.

Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez

One of the two men on the boat who are wanted by the Cuban government for their alleged involvement in promoting, planning, or supporting terrorism.

Conrado Galindo Sariol

A passenger on the boat who was identified as a former political prisoner in a 2025 interview with Martí Noticias, a U.S.-based news site that has long called for a change of government in Cuba.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They became so obsessed that they didn't think about the consequences nor their own lives.”

— Misael Ortega Casanova, Brother of Michel Ortega Casanova (The Associated Press)

“Maybe it will justify that some day Cuba will be free.”

— Misael Ortega Casanova, Brother of Michel Ortega Casanova (The Associated Press)

“It is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that. It's something that hasn't happened with Cuba in a very long time.”

— Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The U.S. government has said it will gather its own information about the people involved in the incident, and it remains to be seen how this will impact the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Cuba.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the continued obsession of some Cuban Americans with overthrowing the communist government in Cuba, even decades after the Cuban revolution. It also underscores the delicate and often volatile relationship between the U.S. and Cuba, which has become increasingly strained under the Trump administration's policies.