“As a result of the clashes, at the time of this report, on the foreign side, four attackers were killed and six others were injured,” the ministry said, adding that the injured were evacuated and received medical assistance.
In its second statement, the ministry released the names of seven people who were on board the speedboat. It said most of the 10 had a record of “criminal and violent activity” in Cuba.
It said a man sent from the United States to take part in the operation was arrested on Cuban soil and pleaded guilty.
The Cuban government frequently reports incursions by speedboats into its territorial waters from the United States.
– People trafficking –
Infiltration incidents are often related to people smuggling or drug trafficking into the United States, and include chases, shootings, and armed attacks on border guards.
Food and medicine shortages and daily blackouts have led to an exodus of people from the island in recent years, with many moving to southern Florida, where waves of Cuban migration have been occurring since the 1960s.
Wednesday’s shootings came as Washington eased a virtual oil siege of the island imposed by President Donald Trump in January after the US ousted Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, a top Cuban ally.