U.S. indicts Raúl Castro in 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, deepening Cuba tensions

The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, accusing him of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of an aircraft, and murder in the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue planes, adding six defendants to a case dating back to 2003. Prosecutors say Castro approved deadly force and a retaliatory operation against the exile group. Cuba’s leader Díaz-Canel denounced the indictment as a political maneuver and cited U.S. sanctions and self-defense arguments, while analysts warn the move could strain U.S.-Cuba relations and potentially set the stage for further pressure or action.