Deadly Clash at Sea: Four Killed, Six Wounded by Cuban Border Guards

A violent confrontation between Cuban Border Guard Troops and a US-registered speedboat off the northern coast of Cuba on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, left four people killed and six others wounded, authorities said.

​In the aftermath of the incident, Cuba said it would defend itself against 'terrorist and mercenary aggression.' Miguel Díaz-Canel, president of Cuba, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), that their nation will 'defend itself with determination and firmness.'

​The speedboat was determined to be a 24-foot Pro-Line, which was registered in Florida, and is believed to be stolen and was allegedly armed.

The US government confirmed on Wednesday that all 10 passengers of the boat were Cubans who were living in the United States and were planning to launch a terrorist attack on the island.

​The government said late Wednesday that the 10 passengers on the boat were armed Cubans living in the US who were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism.

Cuban Authorities Respond To Water Clash

Cuba's Ministry of the Interior said the US-registered speedboat came within one nautical mile off Cayo Falcones and entered Cuban territorial waters on the morning of 25 February. As Border Guard Troops closed in on the boat to identify its occupants, its crew began to open fire, forcing their troop to retaliate, and leaving the commander of the Cuban craft injured, per NBC Washington.

A statement from the Interior Ministry said weapons and military-style gear were found on the vessel, including 'assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms', which were later seized by Cuban authorities, according to a report by ABC News. They also claimed that the group was made up of anti-government Cubans, several of whom were wanted for planned attacks.

According to authorities in Cuba, the six wounded individuals, who received medical attention after having been evacuated from the scene of the shooting, are now accused of intending to 'carry out an infiltration for the purpose of terrorism.' The ministry revealed that the individuals have criminal records in Cuba.

US Response and Ongoing Investigations

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later emphasised that no US government personnel were involved in the deadly shooting. He told reporters that it is 'highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that, it's not something that happens every day, it's something frankly that hasn't happened with Cuba in a very long time,' as shared by Forbes.

Rubio also said, 'We have various different elements of the U.S. government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now.' The US government will verify the facts while investigations by the DHS and US Coast Guard are underway. The White House is also currently monitoring the situation as US Vice President JD Vance has been informed of the incident, according to a Fox News exclusive report.

Vance said, 'Hopefully it's not as bad as we fear it could be.'

Survivors, Detention, and International Reaction

The six survivors were reportedly taken to a hospital in Santa Clara under armed guard and remained in custody as inquiries continue. Cuban authorities have identified seven of the ten men aboard the vessel, including one of the killed men, Michael Ortega Casanova, whose family said was 'obsessive and diabolical' in his pursuit of freedom, per People.

Casanova's brother told news outlets that Michael, an American citizen, has lived in the US for the past 20 years. The other wounded men were later identified as José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Conrado Galindo Sariol.