A U.S. grand jury in Florida has indicted Raúl Castro and five others over a fatal downing of two planes 30 years ago.
Castro, who served as the former president and defense minister of Cuba, has been indicted on murder and conspiracy charges in the deaths of four people in 1996.
After the capture of Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump often signaled that the United States would address Cuba in due time. As well, the president signaled that the U.S. could potentially take over the country, suggesting that the country would benefit from the move because of its economic collapse.
In a news conference in Miami today, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that Castro was being indicted with "conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals."
“For nearly 30 years, the families of four murdered Americans have waited for justice,” he said. “My message today is clear: The United States and President Trump does not and will not forget its citizens,” Blanche added.
In a video posted on social media shortly before the indictments were announce, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the Cuban people, admitting that the reason why Cubans are suffering for 22 hours a day is not because of an “oil blockade.” Instead, Rubio contends that “the real reason you don’t have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people.”
https://x.com/SecRubio/status/2057069290637889876?s=20
The indictments stem from a 1966 incident wherein Castro is accused of ordering Cuban fighter jet pilots to attack two civilian planes that were working under the Brothers to the Rescue, a humanitarian group. As a result of the attack, four members of the humanitarian group were killed.
“They were unarmed civilians and were flying humanitarian missions for the rescue and protection of people fleeing oppression across the Florida Straits,” Blanche commented.
The indictment accuses, "The Castro Regime established and maintained control over Cuba and her people through a reign that eliminated dissent, preserved their power, territory, and reputations, and, through expropriation and nationalization of private business, funded those objectives."
