Related videos:
The Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Natalie Milian Orbis, demanded that U.S. federal authorities conduct a “swift and thorough” investigation following reports that forces of the Cuban regime may have opened fire on a speedboat registered in Florida, an incident that reportedly resulted in a “tragic loss of life” and multiple injuries.
In a public statement, the commissioner warned that, if confirmed, the matter is “deeply alarming.”
Milian Orbis stated that he is following the reports "closely" and emphasized that the case must be clarified by U.S. authorities to ascertain the facts and ensure accountability.
In her statement, the commissioner asserted that "the federal government must determine the facts, protect American interests, and ensure accountability."
He also emphasized that the families of the alleged victims "deserve clear answers" and that "the American people deserve the truth."
Milian Orbis framed his reaction in the historical relationship between South Florida and Cuba.
He noted that incidents like the one reported serve as a reminder that the Cuban dictatorship "continues to endanger the stability of our region and threatens human life," and he added that families in South Florida "are well aware of this reality."
In her statement, the commissioner concluded that the violence linked to the Cuban regime "cannot be ignored or minimized," reiterating the need for U.S. authorities to clarify what happened.
What happened in Cuba?
The armed confrontation that took place in the morning of February 25, 2026, in Cuban territorial waters resulted in a preliminary toll of four dead and seven injured, according to an informational note released by the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).
According to information released by the official profile Minint Hoy, authorities detected a fast boat registered in Florida, United States, identified by the number FL7726SH, that was navigating within Cuban waters.
The vessel was located approximately one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, municipality of Corralillo, province of Villa Clara.
The MININT stated that a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops, consisting of five personnel, approached the boat to carry out identification. According to the official version, fire was opened from the "violating" vessel against the Cuban border guards.
A U.S. official told The New York Times that the vessel was civilian and part of a group of boats trying to pick up relatives in Cuba, and that it did not belong to the Navy or the Coast Guard of the United States.
Filed under: