US charges Raul Castro in 1996 shoot down of civilian planes

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]The Trump administration is turning up the heat on the Cuban government as DOJ unseals murder and conspiracy charges against Cuba's former president Raul Castro, the brother of long-time dictator Fidel Castro. We are announcing an indictment charging Raul Castro and several others with conspiracy to kill US nationals.

[00:00:24]Just >> [cheering] [applause] >> The charges involved the 1996 shoot-down of two humanitarian planes by Cuban MIG fighter jets. Four killed, among them three Americans. What steps are the US willing to take to get him back here?

[00:00:42]Well, we we indict men outside of this country all the time.

[00:00:47]And there's all kinds of different ways that we get them here. Raul Castro took the reins of the Cuban government after his brother Fidel became in poor health.

[00:00:55]Now 94 years old, he's been out of office for years, but still remains a powerful figure. Why now? Was there a breakthrough in this case? The acting attorney general declined to say why charges are being brought now. Well, I cannot explain or justify why now as opposed to two decades ago or 30 years ago when it happened. The indictment marks a major escalation in the US's ongoing pressure campaign to achieve regime change of the island nation's communist-led government. Earlier this year, the United States raided Venezuela taking into custody that country's dictator Nicolas Maduro.

[00:01:38]Today, Cuba's government calling the indictment a farce based on lies to justify military aggression. And Cuban officials say any military move will be met with fierce resistance. George >> Okay, Piers.