Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel reacted to the US Department of Justice's accusation against former revolutionary leader Raul Castro for the 1996 downing of two 'Brothers to the Rescue' planes. In a statement on the social media platform X, Diaz-Canel said these accusations are a political maneuver without legal basis. Emphasizing that the US move aims to pave the way for military intervention against Cuba, Diaz-Canel stated that the US distorts the events and misrepresents the facts related to the downing of planes belonging to the group it calls 'narco-terrorists.' US authorities state that Cuban forces shot down two planes on a humanitarian mission on February 24, 1996, resulting in four deaths, while the Havana administration argues that this action was legitimate within the scope of airspace defense. It is noted that Raul Castro responded to the activities of Jose Basulto, founder of the Brothers to the Rescue organization, alleged to be connected with the CIA. This development coincides with a period when the US has increased economic sanctions against Cuba and the energy crisis has deepened. Diaz-Canel called for the lifting of the US embargo, saying, 'Cuba and the world expect action more than words.'