U.S. Indicts Former Cuban President Raúl Castro Over 1996 Aircraft Shootdown

The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, 94, charging him with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, murder, and destruction of aircraft. The charges stem from the February 24, 1996, downing of two unarmed civilian planes operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including three U.S. citizens.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the indictment at Miami's Freedom Tower, a historic site for Cuban refugees. The indictment also names five other Cuban officials allegedly involved in the incident.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the indictment, describing it as a "political maneuver without any legal basis" aimed at justifying U.S. aggression against Cuba. He asserted that Cuba acted in legitimate self-defense during the 1996 incident, citing repeated violations of Cuban airspace by the Brothers to the Rescue aircraft.

The indictment comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, with the Trump administration intensifying pressure on the Cuban government through economic sanctions and potential military actions. The unsealing of the indictment coincided with Cuban Independence Day, a date of significant historical importance.

While the charges carry severe penalties, including the possibility of life imprisonment, it remains uncertain whether Castro, who retired in 2021 and is considered an influential figure in Cuba, will face trial in the U.S.