Firefight leaves 4 dead aboard intruding speedboat off Cuba's northern coast

A firefight left four people dead and six others injured aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat that was detected within Cuban territorial waters off the northern coast of Cuba early Wednesday, Cuba's Ministry of the Interior said, reported Xinhua.

The ministry said in an official report that the vessel, with U.S. Florida registration number FL7726SH, was detected navigating illegally about 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel in the central province of Villa Clara.

As a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops under the Ministry of the Interior approached to identify the boat, the occupants of the boat opened fire on the Cuban forces. The commander of the Cuban vessel was wounded in the attack, the report said.

Following the confrontation, four from the intruding foreign vessel were killed and six others were injured, said the report, adding that the injured were evacuated from the scene and provided with medical assistance.

The ministry stressed that Cuba reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in protection of its sovereignty and regional stability.

Authorities are continuing investigations to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident. No further details have been released regarding the identities of the boat's occupants or the possible motive behind the incursion.