Cuba’s authorities announced late Wednesday that the ten individuals aboard a boat that fired upon its military personnel were armed Cuban nationals residing in the United States, allegedly attempting to infiltrate the island to instigate terrorism.
This declaration followed reports that Cuban soldiers had killed four people and injured six others on a Florida-registered speedboat that entered Cuban territorial waters and initiated gunfire, resulting in injuries to one Cuban officer.
The Cuban government stated that most of the ten individuals on the vessel “have a documented history of criminal and violent behavior.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed reporters that he was briefed on the situation and that the U.S. is currently gathering its own intelligence to ascertain whether the deceased were American citizens or lawful permanent residents.
“Various agencies within the U.S. government are working to uncover aspects of the narrative that may not have been disclosed to us at this time,” Rubio commented while at the airport in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
Cuba identifies some passengers
The Cuban government named two passengers from the boat as Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, who are wanted by authorities for their involvement in activities related to the promotion, planning, financing, and execution of terrorist acts within Cuba and abroad.
Cuba says four people on a vessel registered in Florida were killed after opening fire on soldiers in Cuban water on Wednesday. Six others aboard the U.S. boat were injured, as was the commander of a Cuban vessel.
The government also reported the arrest of Duniel Hernández Santos, asserting that he was “sent from the United States to ensure the success of the armed infiltration, and he has since admitted to his involvement.”
The Associated Press was not able to independently confirm this information at the moment.
Cuba’s authorities indicated that they gathered information about the boat’s passengers from suspects detained after the shooting incident.
Seven of the ten passengers have been identified, including Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Among the deceased was identified as Michel Ortega Casanova, while the identities of the remaining victims have yet to be revealed.
“The investigative process is ongoing until all facts are fully clarified,” stated the ministry in an official release.
‘Highly unusual’ event: Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio refrained from speculating on the incident, mentioning that a variety of factors could be at play, and emphasized that the U.S. will not rely solely on the accounts provided by Cuban authorities thus far.
“It is safe to say that seeing shootouts in open waters like this is highly unusual. Such incidents are not commonplace and haven’t occurred with Cuba in a long time,” Rubio remarked.
He noted that both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard are investigating the matter and asserted his commitment to verifying the facts.
“The majority of the information being reported publicly originates from Cuban sources. We will independently verify these claims as we obtain more details, and we will be ready to respond appropriately,” Rubio stated. “We will have our own insights on this, and we will determine what transpired.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressing reporters Wednesday at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, discusses information surrounding the shootout. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Rubio clarified that this was not a U.S. government operation and he would not speculate on the boat’s ownership, its intentions, or the specifics of the events that unfolded.
He emphasized: “We will know the truth, and once we do, we will inform you and take necessary actions based on what we find.”
Prior media interview with alleged passenger
Conrado Galindo Sariol, one of the individuals identified by the Cuban government, had previously been interviewed in June 2025 by Martí Noticias, a U.S.-based news outlet advocating for a change in Cuba’s governance.
Galindo, referred to as “a legend” by the host, expressed his desire to support the struggles faced by Cubans, particularly in the eastern regions, “to achieve the freedom that is necessary.”
He remarked that protests occurring in Cuba at that time were “not a fleeting moment that will be extinguished.”
“The leaders of the regime are traversing Cuba, attempting to manage the impending situation because … they recognize their loss of power and their inability to address it, seeking ways to prevent the protests from escalating in other areas of the nation,” Galindo was quoted as saying.
Rubio disclosed that he learned about the shooting incident before the Cuban government made a social media announcement, noting that the U.S. maintains “constant communication” with Cuba “at the Coast Guard level.”
Earlier, Cuba’s Interior Ministry released a statement that provided limited details about the shooting, mentioning that the boat was located approximately 1.6 kilometers northeast of Cayo Falcones, off the northern coast of Cuba.
The authorities provided the boat’s registration number; however, The Associated Press was unable to confirm the specifics of the vessel as boat registrations are not publicly accessible in Florida.
It remains unclear what the boat and its occupants were doing in Cuban waters. The ministry reiterated that Cuba’s government is “protecting its sovereignty and maintaining regional stability.”
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated late Wednesday that Rubio had briefed him on the incident, adding that the White House is keeping a close eye on the situation.
“Hopefully, it’s not as severe as we fear it could be,” Vance remarked.
Tensions could rise further
This shooting incident has the potential to escalate tensions between the United States and Cuba. Following the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump and senior officials in his administration have adopted a more confrontational approach towards Cuba, which had relied heavily on Venezuela’s oil for its economy.
The energy crisis in Cuba has intensified in recent months, particularly after Trump enacted an executive order imposing tariffs on any nation that sells or supplies oil to Cuba. This move significantly impacted Mexico, as Cuba became increasingly dependent on its oil after Trump ceased shipments from Venezuela.
Rubio emphasized the need for the government to implement “significant reforms that would open up avenues for both economic and eventually political freedom for the people of Cuba.”
Additionally, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that he has instructed prosecutors to collaborate with federal, state, and law enforcement agencies to initiate an investigation.
It is not uncommon for confrontations to occur between Cuba’s Coast Guard and U.S.-flagged speedboats in Cuban waters; however, reports of passengers firing upon officials or fatalities have been rare in recent times.
In previous years, some U.S.-flagged vessels were found carrying unidentified cargo meant for the island or were involved in smuggling Cubans into the U.S.