Cuban forces shoot 4 dead on U.S. speedboat, Havana says

"As the Florida-registered vessel came within a nautical mile of Cuba's northern coast, the country's border guard troops approached and asked for identification, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The speedboat crew opened fire on the Cuban troops, injuring the vessel's commander, the ministry said. Cuban forces returned fire. Four people on the speedboat were killed and six wounded, the ministry said."

"In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region."

"Tensions between Washington and Havana have escalated in recent weeks as President Donald Trump's effective oil embargo on the communist nation worsens a years-long humanitarian crisis."

A Florida-registered speedboat approached Cuba's northern coast near Villa Clara province and was intercepted by Cuban border guard troops. When asked for identification, the speedboat crew opened fire on the Cuban forces, injuring the vessel's commander. Cuban troops returned fire, resulting in four deaths and six wounded aboard the speedboat. The wounded were evacuated for medical treatment. Cuba's Interior Ministry stated the incident demonstrates its commitment to protecting territorial waters and national sovereignty. The U.S. State Department declined to comment, and the circumstances surrounding the boat's proximity to Cuban waters remain unclear. Tensions between Washington and Havana have intensified recently due to Trump administration oil embargo policies affecting Cuba's humanitarian situation.

Read at The Washington Post