FBI Technical Team Arrives in Havana to Conduct Independent Probe into Lethal Maritime Clash

A US technical team has arrived in Havana to verify facts surrounding a lethal maritime clash between Cuban exiles and border guards amid rising tensions.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

US Investigators Seek Independent Verification of Deadly Incursion

A technical unit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrived in Havana this week, marking a rare instance of direct cooperation amid strained bilateral relations. The U.S. Embassy in Havana confirmed on Wednesday that the team is tasked with conducting a thorough and independent investigation into the events of February 25. The move comes as Washington seeks to establish its own factual record of a maritime shootout that Cuba claims was a terrorist provocation orchestrated from American soil.

The Midnight Firefight and Seizure of Military Hardware

According to reports from Havana, the incident began when a vessel carrying ten Cuban nationals attempted a clandestine landing under the cover of night. The ensuing clash was exceptionally violent; Cuban authorities report that five of the infiltrators were killed, while the remaining five were wounded and taken into custody. The sheer scale of the hardware recovered—nearly 13,000 rounds of ammunition, 13 rifles, and 11 pistols—suggests a high-level paramilitary operation rather than a simple migration attempt.

Strategic Context of Heightened Caribbean Tensions

The FBI’s arrival follows a period of extreme diplomatic friction between Washington and Havana. Relations plummeted in January 2026 after President Donald Trump imposed a virtual oil blockade on the island, a strategic move following the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. With Cuba’s primary energy benefactor removed, the island has been on high alert for internal and external threats. Havana maintains that the assailants are known exiles with ties to extremist organizations intent on attacking military installations to incite domestic chaos.