(The Associated Press, May 20, 2026) "A group founded by Cuban exiles known as Brothers to the Rescue is at the center of the U.S. Justice Department’s decision to seek an indictment against Cuban leader Raúl Castro, a move that would revive one of the lowest points in the two countries’ bitter decadeslong relationship."
"A person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press that the potential indictment is connected to Castro’s alleged role in the 1996 shootdown of two planes operated by the Miami-based exile group. Castro was defense minister at the time, making him the nation’s highest authority after his brother Fidel."
"The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation."
"Brothers to the Rescue began operating in 1980 during 125,000 Cubans’ unexpected emigration to the United States. Founded by emigré José Basulto, it aimed to help Cuban refugees in the Florida straits by dropping supplies from small planes and alerting the U.S. Coast Guard."
"On Feb. 24, 1996, three planes carrying members of Brothers to the Rescue entered a zone close to the 24th parallel, a short distance north of Havana and some of Cuba’s highest-value targets."
"Cuban fighter planes shot down two of the exiles’ unarmed civilian Cessnas, killing all four men aboard. A third plane, carrying the organization’s leader, narrowly escaped."
"American University Cuba specialist William LeoGrande and National Security Archive senior analyst Peter Kornbluh said this week that their 2015 book, 'Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana,' shows how the Clinton administration’s repeated warnings about provoking Cuba did not stop Hermanos al Rescate."
“ 'Only after the shootdown did the FAA issue a concrete ‘cease and desist’ order against Basulto for what it called ‘careless or reckless’ operations that ‘endanger the lives or property of others,’ the pair wrote."
Article at link:
https://wtop.com/national/2026/05/a-cuban-exiles-group-is-at-the-heart-of-dojs-push-to-indict-raul-castro-over-a-1996-shootdown-2/
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