The United States Department of Justice unsealed an indictment Wednesday charging former Cuban President and longtime defense minister Raúl Castro with murder and conspiracy, according to a report by the Associated Press. The charges stem from Castro’s alleged involvement in the Cuban military’s decision to shoot down two Cessna aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, an incident that killed all four crew members.
The indictment is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to intensify pressure on Cuba’s socialist government. The administration has publicly discussed regime change on the island, a posture sharpened after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. Simultaneously, the White House has maintained a tight economic blockade that Havana and international aid groups say has triggered extended blackouts, severe food shortages, and the near-collapse of economic activity across the country.
The indictment arrives as the U.S. observes an uneasy ceasefire in its armed conflict with Iran, a situation that has strained diplomatic and military resources. The Cuban government has yet to issue a formal response to the unsealed charges against the 94-year-old Castro, who stepped down as president in 2018.