Shooting Down Civil Aircraft: What International and U.S. Law Say About a Charge in the Raul Castro Indictment

The U.S. Department of Justice indicted former Cuban president Raul Castro for the 1996 shootdown of two civil aircraft operated by the 'Brothers to the Rescue' group, which resulted in four deaths including three U.S. citizens. The incident, disputed as to whether it occurred in Cuban or international airspace, led to an ICAO investigation concluding Cuba violated procedures, with the UN Security Council deeming the shootdown unlawful. International law prohibits such actions except in self-defense.