The United States is reportedly moving closer to indicting former Cuban leader Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by the humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue, according to reports citing U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

The potential indictment would reportedly require approval from a grand jury and would focus on the February 1996 incident in which four people were killed after Cuban fighter jets shot down two unarmed Cessna planes.

A spokesperson for the United States Department of Justice declined to comment on the reported effort.

The development comes as the administration of Donald Trump increases pressure on Cuba’s communist government. The administration has recently threatened steep tariffs targeting countries exporting oil to the island nation, intensifying Cuba’s ongoing energy and economic crisis.

The 1996 shootdown remains one of the most controversial flashpoints in modern U.S.-Cuba relations. Brothers to the Rescue was a Miami-based group known for flying missions over the Florida Straits to search for Cuban migrants attempting to flee the island on rafts.

In February 1996, two of the group’s aircraft were destroyed by a Cuban MiG-29 fighter jet. All four individuals aboard the planes were killed.

An investigation conducted by the Organization of American States concluded that the aircraft had been shot down outside Cuban airspace and determined that Cuba violated international law by using lethal force without warning or sufficient justification.

Then-President Bill Clinton condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms.”

Cuban officials have long defended the military action, arguing the aircraft had violated Cuban airspace and represented a national security threat. At the time, Fidel Castro led the country while Raúl Castro oversaw the Cuban armed forces. Fidel Castro later stated that the military had acted under his broader directives to stop incursions into Cuban territory.

One man, Gerardo Hernández, was later convicted in the United States on conspiracy charges connected to the shootdown after prosecutors alleged he helped provide intelligence to Cuban authorities. Hernández was released in 2014 as part of a prisoner exchange between the United States and Cuba and subsequently returned to the island.

The renewed scrutiny surrounding the case comes amid a broader effort targeting Cuba’s communist leadership. Reports indicate that John Ratcliffe recently met with Raúl Castro’s grandson, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, also known as “Raulito.” According to reports, Ratcliffe conveyed that the United States is prepared to engage economically and on security issues only if Cuba makes substantial political and structural changes.

Separately, law enforcement officials in Florida have reportedly been exploring potential prosecutions involving Cuban communist officials tied to alleged economic crimes, narcotics activity, violent offenses, and immigration-related violations.

Florida Republicans have increasingly pushed for accountability in the decades-old Brothers to the Rescue case. Rick Scott and other lawmakers have recently urged the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges related to the incident.

Ron DeSantis responded to the reports with a blunt statement of support.

“Let ’er rip, it’s been a long time coming!” DeSantis wrote.

Carlos Giménez, the only Cuban-born member of Congress, also voiced support for the reported effort.

“I’m the only Cuban-born Member of the US Congress, and I fully support bringing dictator Raúl Castro to justice,” Giménez said on X.

Although Raúl Castro formally stepped down as leader of Cuba’s Communist Party in 2021, he is still widely viewed as a highly influential figure behind the scenes within the Cuban government.

If prosecutors move forward with charges, the case would mark a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Havana while reopening one of the most painful and politically sensitive episodes in the history of U.S.-Cuba relations.

Meanwhile, Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed Friday that Cuban officials have been holding discussions with members of the Trump administration. During a 90-minute news conference carried by state media, Díaz-Canel acknowledged that talks were taking place as Cuba grapples with worsening economic conditions and severe energy shortages.