Cuba says it killed heavily armed exiles who attacked from US-registered speedboat

Cuban forces killed four exiles and wounded six others who sailed into its waters onboard a Florida-registered speedboat and opened fire on a Cuban patrol, the country's government said on February 25, 2026, at a time of heightened tensions with the US amid an ongoing oil embargo. The rare maritime confrontation occurred as both nations continue to navigate complex diplomatic relations marked by decades of political discord. According to Cuban officials, the heavily armed speedboat approached Cuban territorial waters before initiating the attack, prompting a swift response from coastal defense units monitoring the area. The incident took place as Caribbean leaders gathered for a CARICOM summit, where regional nations have traditionally advocated for normalized relations between Washington and Havana. The attack represents one of the most serious military confrontations between Cuba and exile groups in recent years, occurring against a backdrop of increasing economic pressure from US sanctions. Cuban authorities have long accused exile organizations of attempting to destabilize the island nation, while many exiles maintain their opposition to Cuba's government, which has been in power since the 1959 revolution.