US Files Murder Charges Against Raúl Castro Over 1996 Air Incident

The United States has filed murder charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, marking a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Havana. The charges relate to the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue.

US prosecutors accused Castro, who served as Cuba’s defense minister at the time, of ordering the attack that killed four Americans. The indictment, secretly approved by a grand jury in April, includes charges of murder and destruction of an aircraft. Five Cuban military pilots were also charged.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the victims were unarmed civilians involved in humanitarian missions helping people fleeing Cuba.

Cuba Rejects Charges as Political Move

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel strongly criticized the indictment, calling it a political maneuver aimed at increasing pressure on Cuba. He argued that Cuban authorities had repeatedly warned against airspace violations before the incident.

President Donald Trump said the US is prepared to wait and see what happens next, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans to support political and economic change, promising a new chapter in US-Cuba relations if leadership shifts.