The US justice department is reportedly preparing to indict aging Cuban leader Raúl Castro in the coming days over the shooting down of two aircraft three decades ago. The reported charges, which would need to be approved by a US grand jury, emerged as the director of the CIA travelled to Cuba to meet officials in Havana. Castro, 94, stepped down as Cuban Communist Party leader in 2021, ending his family's more than half a century in power. He led the country for 15 years, stepping in after his brother, Fidel, resigned. The potential indictment is the latest move in a US pressure campaign that has included an oil blockade and widespread sanctions. The charges are said to centre on the 1996 downing of two planes operated by the US activist-humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue. Unnamed US Department of Justice (DoJ) officials told media the indictment could come as soon as next Wednesday. President Donald Trump has commented on the situation, highlighting the struggles of the Cuban people and suggesting that significant changes are needed. Castro's indictment is described as part of a broader US strategy to pressure the Cuban government, which continues to assert its sovereignty despite US embargos and sanctions.
US Plans to Indict Raúl Castro Over Historic Plane Shootdown
US Plans to Indict Raúl Castro Over Historic Plane Shootdown
The US government is preparing to bring charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro related to a 1996 incident involving the downing of two planes, intensifying a decades-long conflict between the nations.
The US justice department is reportedly getting ready to indict Raúl Castro, the ex-leader of Cuba, over the shooting down of two aircraft from a US activist group in 1996. This development is linked to ongoing US diplomatic tensions with the island nation and has emerged following a CIA director's visit to Cuba. The charges hinge on events that resulted in the death of four individuals and contribute to a broader strategy of pressure against the Cuban government.
