DOJ indicts Raul Castro over 1996 shootdown of US civilian planes
Former Cuban President Raul Castro was indicted by the United States Justice Department on Wednesday in a dramatic escalation of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s communist government.
TL;DR
- Former Cuban President Raul Castro has been indicted by the US Justice Department.
- The indictment relates to the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes, which killed four American citizens.
- Castro and five others are accused of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals and destruction of aircraft.
- The indictment was announced by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
- This action is part of an intensified pressure campaign by the Trump administration against Cuba.
- Castro was Cuba's defense minister at the time of the incident.
- The Cuban government has defended the attack as a response to alleged airspace violations.
- The indictment follows similar actions against former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.