STORY: Cuba said on Thursday (February 26) that the United States is willing to cooperate following what the government in Havana described as an attack by heavily armed Cuban nationals who tried to infiltrate the country by speedboat.

During a news conference in Havana, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said authorities had promptly established communication with U.S. counterparts, including the State Department and U.S. Coast Guard, after what he described as a "terrorist attempt" involving 10 individuals.

The official named the suspects as Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Serrior, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Leordan Cruz Gomez, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, Roberto Alvarez Avila, Pavel Alling Pena, Michael Ortega Casanova, Ledian Padron Guevara, and Hector Duani Cruz Correa. The latter four were reported deceased.

According to a U.S. official in Washington, at least two of those aboard the Florida-registered speedboat were U.S. citizens, one of the dead and one of the injured, who was receiving medical care in Cuba. Others may have been legal U.S. residents, the official said.

The Wednesday (February 25) incident happened amid heightened U.S.-Cuban tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump has further tightened economic sanctions on Cuba since the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a key Cuban ally, on January 3.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his government would independently investigate the incident and that the U.S. Embassy in Havana was seeking access to the survivors to determine whether any were U.S. citizens or permanent residents. He said it was not a U.S. operation and that no U.S. government personnel were involved.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM CUBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER CARLOS FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO AT THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTER / CUBAN FLAG WAVING IN FRONT OF U.S. EMBASSY BUILDING

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 26, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. CUBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER CARLOS FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO (LEFT) WALKING ON STAGE AT THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTER

2. SIGN READING (Spanish): “INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTER. MINREX-CUBA”

3. FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO’S HANDS HOLDING PRESS RELEASE

4. FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO READING PRESS RELEASE TO MEDIA

5. MEDIA

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, CARLOS FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO, SAYING:

“Cuban authorities have maintained communication regarding this terrorist attempt with their U.S. counterparts, including the State Department and the Coast Guard. An investigation is underway to clarify the facts thoroughly. The Cuban government is willing to exchange information with the U.S. government regarding this incident. Among other requests, we will ask for information on the individuals involved, the means used, and other details will be provided to U.S. authorities through the existing mechanisms between the two countries. U.S. government authorities have expressed their willingness to cooperate in clarifying these regrettable events."

HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 2, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

7. CUBAN FLAG WAVING

8. CUBAN FLAG WAVING AND SCULPTURE OF CUBAN FLAG IN FRONT OF U.S. EMBASSY BUILDING

HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 26, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, CARLOS FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO, SAYING:

“It is important to clarify that the 10 individuals involved in the incident are the following: Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Serrior, Jose Manuel Rodríguez Castello, Leordan Cruz Gomez, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, Roberto Alvarez Avila, and Pavel Alling Pena, Manuel (meaning: Michael) Ortega Casanova, Ledian Padron Guevara, and Hector Duani Cruz Correa. The latter four are the deceased. An initial report mistakenly mentioned Rolando Roberto Ascorra Consuegra, who is not part of the group, although he is known for his history of involvement in violent actions and intentions against Cuba.”

HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 2, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

10. U.S. FLAG WAVING IN FRONT OF U.S. EMBASSY

HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 26, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

11. U.S EMBASSY, U.S FLAG WAVING AND SEA IN THE BACKGROUND

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, CARLOS FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO, SAYING:

“Cuban authorities have regularly provided the United States government with information on individuals who, in recent years, have promoted, financed, and organized violent and terrorist acts against Cuba. This information includes the national list of individuals and entities that have been subject to criminal investigations and are wanted by Cuban authorities for their involvement in acts of terrorism. This list was compiled in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, the norms and principles of international law, and Cuban national law."

13. FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO IN CAMERA VIEWFINDER / FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO READING A STATEMENT IN THE BACKGROUND

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CUBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, CARLOS FERNANDEZ DE COSSIO, SAYING:

“Two of the perpetrators, two of those who came in the boats, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, are included on this list, which was shared with the United States in 2023 and 2025, and enjoyed impunity within the territory of that country. The Cuban government is still awaiting responses to requests regarding them and the rest of the individuals and organizations included on the issued list. Anti-Cuban groups operating in the United States resort to terrorism as an expression of their hatred against Cuba and the impunity they believe they enjoy. Cuba reaffirms its absolute and categorical commitment against all acts, methods, and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

HAVANA, CUBA (FEBRUARY 2, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

15. NATIONAL CAPITOL BUILDING AND VINTAGE CARS PARKED ON AVENUE

16. CUBAN FLAG NEXT TO THE DOME OF THE NATIONAL CAPITOL