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Cuban coast guard kills 4 in exchange of gunfire with stolen speedboat as ministry IDs 'criminal' suspects (Florida-registered)
Fox News ^ | 2/25/26 | Emma Bussey

Posted on 02/26/2026 2:38:50 AM PST by Libloather

Cuba’s coast guard shot dead four people and wounded six others aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat in an exchange of gunfire off the communist island’s coast, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry said a Cuban patrol vessel had approached the Florida-registered boat to identify those on board when shots were fired from the boat, wounding the captain of the Cuban craft.

According to Havana’s statement, the boat was detected within Cuban territorial waters Wednesday morning on the northeast side of the El Pino channel near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province.

Cuban border troops moved in to inspect the vessel, but the "crew of the violating speedboat opened fire," prompting return fire from Cuban forces.

"As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six were injured," the ministry said, adding that the injured were evacuated and are receiving medical care.

"In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Local News; Outdoors; Travel
KEYWORDS: criminal; cuba; florida; speedboat

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Four less Florida men.
1 posted on 02/26/2026 2:38:50 AM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather

Can anyone believe a story as told by Cuba’s communist thugs?


2 posted on 02/26/2026 2:46:16 AM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: jacknhoo

No but it is not hard to accept they may have been trying to smuggle family or friends out of Cuba and RAN afoul of the Cuban Coast Guard.

The shooting part puzzles me.


3 posted on 02/26/2026 2:53:05 AM PST by Skwor
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To: Libloather

I heard about this last night.

I’m trying to find a way to assign this to democrats infected with a hero complex trying to ‘help’ the cuban people live the socialist dream that’s being ruined by the evil Trump embargo.

Kind of doesn’t add up though, so I’m curious about what really happened.


4 posted on 02/26/2026 2:55:37 AM PST by Samurai_Jack (This is not about hypocrisy, this is about hierarchy!)
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To: Libloather
Russia says boat incident near Cuba is 'aggressive provocation' by U.S. February 26, MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) -

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday that an incident with a Florida-registered speedboat off the coast of Cuba was an ‘aggressive provocation by the United States’ aimed at escalating the situation and triggering a conflict, state-owned TASS news agency reported.

"This is an aggressive provocation by the United States aimed at escalating the situation and detonating a conflict," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by TASS.

5 posted on 02/26/2026 3:15:43 AM PST by tlozo (“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump)
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To: Libloather

No mention whether the boat was clear, or stolen out of Florida. I’m not convinced these were US nationals, at this point.


6 posted on 02/26/2026 3:30:30 AM PST by Fireone (1. Avoid crowds 2.Head on a swivel 3.Be prepared to protect & defend those around you 4.Avoid crowds)
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To: jacknhoo

Yes I believe it. The human trafficking body runners are making big money with the cigerrate boats.


7 posted on 02/26/2026 3:40:06 AM PST by devane617 (Discipline Is Reliable, Motivation Is Fleeting..)
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To: devane617

In the 80’s, I remember well hearing of people purposely leaving their keys in their cigarette boats overnight and coming back the next day to find $$$$$$ in a compartment for them. A ‘thanks’, if you will, for the unspoken ‘use’ of the boat.


8 posted on 02/26/2026 4:09:09 AM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: Libloather

Anyone on that boat, made of either fiberglass or marine plywood, and in their right mind, would know they have no protection from gunfire.

Unless of course they had Humphrey Bogart at the wheel to disable the searchlight with a Winchester, and steer them into the fog and escape.

Casting call for some Expendables, and there is some money.


9 posted on 02/26/2026 4:13:34 AM PST by PeaRidge
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To: Libloather

Anyone on that boat, made of either fiberglass or marine plywood, and in their right mind, would know they have no protection from gunfire.

Unless of course they had Humphrey Bogart at the wheel to disable the searchlight with a Winchester, and steer them into the fog and escape.

Casting call for some Expendables, and there is some money.


10 posted on 02/26/2026 4:15:11 AM PST by PeaRidge
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To: Skwor

“..smuggle family or friends out of Cuba and RAN afoul of the Cuban Coast Guard.”

That is probably close to the truth. Some outlets yesterday were trying to suggest the “US-flagged” boat was our military. Not a chance.


11 posted on 02/26/2026 4:21:39 AM PST by quantim (Victory is not relative, it is absolute.)
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To: jacknhoo

“Can anyone believe a story as told by Cuba’s communist thugs?”

no one with any sense would ...


12 posted on 02/26/2026 4:32:53 AM PST by catnipman ((A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil))
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To: catnipman

‘Speedboat’ had 4 dead and 6 wounded. That’s 10 people. Where is there room for escapees?


13 posted on 02/26/2026 4:39:09 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: jacknhoo

I am surprised Cuba hasn’t announced they were CIA agents, trying to enter Cuba to foment unrest. (Although, I am sure the CIA has better ways of getting people into Cuba.)

I guess the rule is not to shoot at Coast Guard boats when you are in their territorial waters.


14 posted on 02/26/2026 4:52:37 AM PST by Vermont Lt
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Could they have bern trying to offload infiltrators into Cuba instead?


15 posted on 02/26/2026 5:09:49 AM PST by desertsolitaire (I believ e)
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Article states boat was reported stolen after the incident. According to Cuba, these men were known “terrorists” in Cuban waters. That explains why they shot at Cuban authorities. Probably better than being taken alive.

The million dollar question...Why they were there?


16 posted on 02/26/2026 5:11:22 AM PST by mouse1
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To: PeaRidge
I watch a ton of old B+W movies. Nobody gets hit nor do vehicles get damaged. Almost completely safe. Ever see just ONE hole in either of these? And they would hide behind 'em during bullet exchanges.


17 posted on 02/26/2026 5:22:35 AM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: Libloather

I know you are just being sarcastic,

But I would suggest “To Have and Have Not”, the Hawkes-Hemingway b&w masterpiece where both things happen. In fact, if you watch closely, you can see the bullet hole in the searchlight, and “Steve’s” passenger ‘s shoulder.


18 posted on 02/26/2026 7:11:25 AM PST by PeaRidge
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To: jacknhoo

I somehow believe Cuba on this.


19 posted on 02/26/2026 8:04:57 AM PST by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower)
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To: jacknhoo

Might be fentanyl runners. Also, anybody firing on a military craft deserves what they get back.


20 posted on 02/26/2026 8:48:45 AM PST by bobbo666
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