Cuba Allegedly Fires on U.S. Boat, Killing Four in Coastal Clash

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Representative Carlos Gimenez, R-Florida, have demanded an immediate investigation after Cuban authorities allegedly opened fire on a U.S.-registered vessel this week, resulting in four fatalities near the island’s coast.

Rubio, who was born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, described the incident as highly unusual, stating it is “not something that happens every day” and has not occurred with Cuba for an extended period.

Cuba’s Interior Ministry reported that the vessel approached within one nautical mile of a coastal town in central Cuba before discharging firearms when border officers attempted to identify passengers on board. The ministry claimed the boat carried 10 armed Cuban nationals who reside in the United States and were attempting what it termed “terrorist infiltration” of the island.

Cuban authorities confirmed that injured individuals were evacuated for medical treatment and defended their actions, asserting that national defense is a cornerstone of territorial sovereignty. On social media platform X, Cuba’s government stated: “In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters.”

Gimenez, a vocal critic of Cuban leadership, condemned the incident as a “massacre” and urged U.S. officials to verify whether any victims were citizens or legal residents while establishing the exact circumstances. He added that the Cuban regime must be “relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity.”

The incident further strains diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana, which have remained strained for decades due to sanctions, political disputes, and hostility since Cuba’s 1959 revolution. The island nation lies approximately 90 miles south of Florida, and maritime incidents have historically heightened tensions over migration, security, and alleged subversive activities.

U.S. authorities have yet to disclose the identities of those killed or confirm Cuba’s account of the confrontation.