Cuba’s government disclosed on Wednesday night that the 10 individuals aboard a boat that engaged in a firefight with its soldiers were armed Cuban expatriates residing in the United States attempting to infiltrate the island for terrorist activities. The revelation followed an earlier announcement by Cuba reporting that its troops had killed four individuals and injured six others on a Florida-registered speedboat that had entered Cuban waters and initiated the violence by firing on the soldiers, resulting in one Cuban officer sustaining injuries. The Cuban government stated that most of the 10 individuals onboard the boat had a documented history of engaging in criminal and violent behavior.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged being informed about the incident and mentioned that the U.S. is in the process of gathering information to ascertain the citizenship status of the victims. Rubio emphasized the involvement of various U.S. government agencies in investigating the incident to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the events.
Cuba identified two of the boat passengers as Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, both wanted by Cuban authorities for their alleged roles in supporting or carrying out terrorist activities. Another individual, Duniel Hernández Santos, was arrested and confessed to being dispatched from the U.S. to facilitate the armed infiltration. The information regarding the passengers was reportedly obtained from the detained suspects following the confrontation.
The identities of seven out of the 10 passengers were disclosed by the Cuban government, including Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Additionally, one of the deceased individuals was identified as Michel Ortega Casanova, while the remaining passengers are yet to be named. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing until all facts are clarified, as stated by the Cuban Ministry.
Addressing the unusual nature of the event, Senator Marco Rubio refrained from speculating on the circumstances surrounding the shootout and emphasized the need for an independent verification of the facts provided by Cuban authorities. Rubio highlighted the ongoing investigations by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard while underscoring the importance of establishing the veracity of the information before drawing conclusions.
Furthermore, a prior media interview with one of the identified passengers, Conrado Galindo Sariol, shed light on his motivations and dedication to supporting the struggles faced by Cubans in pursuit of freedom. The U.S. government has maintained communication with Cuban authorities, particularly at the Coast Guard level, to stay apprised of the developments in the aftermath of the incident.
The incident has the potential to escalate tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, especially in the context of recent geopolitical shifts following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the subsequent changes in U.S. policies towards Cuba. The shooting incident underscores the complexities of maritime disputes between the two nations and the need for thorough investigations to determine the underlying causes and implications.