The United States is watching developments after Cuban soldiers shot dead four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speedboat that had entered Cuban waters, Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday.

Cuba's interior ministry confirmed the shooting but offered little detail, saying the vessel was approximately one mile north-east of Cayo Falcones off the island's north coast. It remains unclear whether any US citizens were on board.

Vance said: "Certainly, it is a situation we are monitoring; hopefully, it is not as serious as we fear. But I cannot say more, because I simply do not know any more."

The Cuban government said the boat had opened fire on soldiers before they returned fire.

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