Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar demanded this Wednesday that U.S. authorities urgently clarify what occurred following the armed confrontation that took place in Cuban waters, which left four dead and several injured aboard a vessel registered in the state of Florida.
In a public statement, Salazar asserted that he is closely monitoring reports indicating that forces of the Cuban regime fired upon a speedboat registered in Florida.
The legislator emphasized that this is an evolving situation and that she expects detailed information from U.S. authorities to accurately determine what happened and the immigration status or nationality of the victims.
The incident was reported by the Ministry of the Interior of Cuba, which noted that the event occurred on the morning of February 25, 2026.
According to the official version, a unit of the Border Guard Troops detected a boat identified as FL7726SH navigating approximately one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, municipality of Corralillo, province of Villa Clara.
According to the official Cuban report, as the identification process was underway, fire would have been opened from the vessel against the Cuban forces, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
The island authorities reported four people killed and six injured, while the commander of the Cuban unit was wounded.
So far, the names of the deceased have not been released, nor has it been confirmed whether any of them are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, a point that has raised particular concern in South Florida.
Carlos A. Giménez, who is also a congressman, reacted to the incident and demanded an immediate investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the confrontation.
Giménez described the events as a massacre and requested that the State Department and U.S. military authorities gather all relevant information.
The case has raised political tension in South Florida and could prompt diplomatic questions if the involvement of U.S. citizens in the incident is confirmed.
Both legislators have insisted that the federal government must act quickly and transparently in response to an incident involving a vessel registered in the United States and the use of lethal force in waters near Cuba.
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