Mexican Navy ship ARM Papaloapan (A-411) departs from the Port of Veracruz carrying humanitarian aid bound for Cuba, according to local media, in Veracruz, Mexico, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Yahir Ceballos
(Washington DC / Havanna, Cuba) – Four passengers aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat were killed and six others injured during a confrontation with Cuban border forces on Tuesday morning, according to a statement released by the Cuban Embassy citing Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior.
Cuban authorities said the incident occurred on February 25, 2026, after a speedboat registered in Florida — bearing registration number FL7726SH — was detected inside Cuban territorial waters.
This rocks the waters massively in what people are deeming The 2026 Cuban Crisis.
What Cuban Officials Say Happened
According to the official statement, the vessel approached to within approximately one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel in Cayo Falcones, located in the Corralillo municipality of Villa Clara province.
A surface unit from Cuba’s Border Guard Troops, staffed by five service members, approached the boat for identification. Cuban officials allege that the occupants of the speedboat opened fire on Cuban personnel during the encounter, injuring the commander of the Cuban vessel.
Authorities say that during the exchange, four individuals aboard the U.S.-registered boat were killed and six others were injured. The injured were evacuated and provided medical treatment, according to the statement.
Ongoing Investigation
Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior described those killed as “aggressors” and said investigations are continuing to fully clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The statement also emphasized Cuba’s position on defending its sovereignty, saying the country remains determined to protect its territorial waters.
There has been no immediate confirmation from U.S. officials regarding the incident, and further details about the identities of those involved have not yet been released.
The situation remains developing.
Note from the Ministry of the Interior:
On the morning of February 25, 2026, a violating speedboat was detected within Cuban territorial waters. The vessel, registered in Florida, United States, with registration number FL7726SH, approached up to 1 nautical mile northeast of the… pic.twitter.com/AEmwtAZ4lO
— Cuban Embassy in US (@EmbaCubaUS) February 25, 2026
