U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at approximately 10:46-11:16 PM UTC on February 25, 2026, that the Florida-registered speedboat FL7726SH involved in a deadly clash with Cuban forces near Corralillo was not a U.S. government vessel and carried no U.S. government personnel, as reported by ABC News' Nick Schifrin citing Rubio's X post. Rubio added they await confirmation on whether those involved were U.S. citizens, according to CNN's Phil Stewart. This develops a U.S. official's prior confirmation to The New York Times between 9:16 PM and 10:16 PM UTC that the boat was a civilian vessel attempting to rescue relatives in Cuba, countering Cuban Ministry of the Interior claims that Border Guard Troops were fired upon first 1 nautical mile northeast of El Pino channel in Cayo Falcones territorial waters, killing four and wounding six. Rubio's comments follow Cuban exile activist MagJorgeCastro's accusation between 10:16 PM and 10:46 PM UTC on X that the regime lied by labeling the crew 'mercenaries,' as well as ongoing U.S. and Florida investigations launched earlier that evening, with Florida Attorney General directing the Office of Statewide Prosecution to probe due to distrust of Cuban accounts.
