U.S. imposes new sanctions on Cuba amid drone threats and rising tensions

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Now at 11, tensions rising after Cuba's leader says a US assault on the island would cause a bloodbath. Tonight, the US announced new sanctions against the regime.

[00:00:12]All of this happening a day after a report says Cuba has more than 300 military drones with the ability to reach US territories like Guantanamo Bay and even Key West. Good evening. Thank you for joining us. I'm Lauren Pastrana.

[00:00:26]CBS News Miami's Anna McAllister is your reporter live from Little Havana. And Anna, how's the Cuban American community reacting tonight?

[00:00:35]Lauren, the Cuban Americans I spoke to tonight say they're really happy about these sanctions. They believe this is a step in the right direction. They also told me they believe that the walls are closing in on the Castro regime.

[00:00:47]At the iconic Cuban restaurant Versailles, Cuban Americans aren't holding back their thoughts on the escalating tensions between Cuba and the US. Things could happen way before they expect it. As patrons grab their cafecito and take out dinners, we asked them what they hope happens regarding the conflict.

[00:01:06]That it be resolved as soon as possible and of course that there's not a bloodbath either. A bloodbath is exactly what Cuba's leader Miguel Diaz-Canel said would ensue if the US were to use military aggression on the island nation in a tweet posted on X Monday. This comes one day after Axios reported that Cuba has more than 300 military drones.

[00:01:28]Monday, the Cuban ambassador to the United Nations commented on if Cuba plans to attack the US. No one can find just a single statement of the Cuban authorities or the Cuban people saying that they are ready to attack the US, that they want to attack the US. The Trump administration issuing sanctions against these 11 Cuban top officials following the news of Cuba possessing drones. We asked Cuban Americans at Versailles their thoughts on the sanctions.

[00:02:03]This is a form of pressure so that there is a change because they want an economic change, but not a political change. And I think the sanctions has been great and they should be more than the one they just did. I mean, I think that's this is the beginning of the end of the dictatorship.

[00:02:22]And this is all happening as the US government could possibly indict Raul Castro as soon as Wednesday in connection to the Brothers to the Rescue attack that killed four Americans 30 years ago. But for now, reporting live from Little Havana, Anna McAllister, CBS News, Miami.

[00:02:40]Anna, thank you and stay with CBS News Miami for the latest developments out of Cuba. You can always stay up to date by clicking on our Cuba in Crisis tab on CBSMiami.com.