Moscow: Cuba incident ‘provocation’ by US

Russia has described the incident off the coast of Cuba as an ‘aggressive provocation’ by the United States. According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the attack by a motorboat registered in Florida was allegedly intended to trigger escalation and conflict.

Cuban authorities say a group of anti-government exiles entered the country’s waters armed with assault rifles and explosives and opened fire on a border patrol vessel. Four attackers were killed, six were injured, and the commander of the Cuban vessel was also wounded.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that it was a US operation and said Washington would investigate the circumstances. The incident comes amid growing tension between Washington and Havana over the island’s oil blockade.

(reuters, pir)