Despite some viral wording, this was not “in Miami.” On February 25, 2026, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said Cuban border guards intercepted a Florida-registered speedboat about one nautical mile off Villa Clara (near Cayo Falcones) and that the boat’s crew—described as 10 armed Cubans living in the U.S.—opened fire first, wounding a Cuban patrol commander. Cuba says its forces returned fire, leaving 4 people dead and 6 wounded; survivors were named and taken for medical treatment. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said Washington would verify the facts independently, with U.S. agencies and Florida authorities also moving to investigate.

Hours later, the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC published fresh guidance that could ease Cuba’s fuel squeeze: a “favorable licensing policy” for applications to resell Venezuelan-origin oil for use in Cuba—aimed at supporting the Cuban people and private sector. The policy explicitly excludes transactions that involve or benefit Cuban military, intelligence, or other government-linked entities, including those on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. OFAC also notes that U.S. Commerce primarily regulates exports/reexports of U.S.-origin oil to Cuba and points to existing pathways tied to “Support for the Cuban People.”

Why it matters: Together, the offshore gunfight and the oil move signal a fast-escalating U.S.–Cuba moment—security tensions rising at sea while policymakers look for narrow channels to relieve civilian hardship. Next headlines will likely hinge on independent verification, access to survivors, and whether any fuel flows can be kept out of state hands and into daily life.