Boat from the US opens fire on Cuban security forces
The Cuban Ministry of the Interior announced that 4 attackers were killed and 7 people, including one Cuban security officer, were injured after security forces intervened against a speedboat that had arrived from the US state of Florida and violated the country's territorial waters.
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As diplomatic tensions between the US and Cuba continue, an armed clash has occurred in Cuban territorial waters. A statement from the Cuban Ministry of the Interior indicated that a US-registered speedboat had departed from a port in the state of Florida and violated the border in Cuban territorial waters.
It was stated that Cuban security forces arrived at the scene to intervene in the violation near Cayo Falcones Island in the north of the country, and that some individuals on the boat opened fire on the authorities during the intervention.
It was announced that 4 attackers on the boat were killed and 6 others were injured when Cuban security forces returned fire. It was also noted that a commander on a patrol boat belonging to the Cuban border security forces was injured in the incident. It was reported that the injured were evacuated and provided with medical assistance.
In the ministry's statement, it was said, "In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters in line with the principle of national defense, which is one of the fundamental elements of protecting its sovereignty and stability in the region."
The Cuban government reported that no findings have yet been determined regarding the identities of those on the boat or what the vehicle was doing in the region, while announcing that a comprehensive investigation into the incident has been launched.
The development comes at a time when relations have worsened following the US's large-scale airstrike on Venezuela on January 3 and the forced removal of Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife from the country.