The United States is preparing to bring charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro over his alleged role in the 1996 shooting down of two civilian aircraft, a case that has resurfaced decades after the incident strained relations between Washington and Havana.

US media reports say the Department of Justice is working on an indictment that could be presented to a grand jury in the coming days. The case centres on the destruction of two planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue, which was active in search-and-rescue missions for Cuban migrants but also carried out anti-government flights near Cuba.

The aircraft were shot down in 1996 while Raúl Castro was serving as Cuba’s defence minister under his brother, Fidel Castro. Four people were killed in the incident. Washington has long argued that the planes were attacked in international airspace, while Cuban authorities insisted they had violated national airspace.

The renewed legal move comes amid rising tensions between the two countries. US President Donald Trump has maintained strong sanctions and an oil blockade on Cuba, worsening fuel shortages on the island.

Despite the pressure, Cuban officials have defended their sovereignty and rejected external criticism. The country’s leadership has not formally responded to the reported indictment.

At the same time, US intelligence officials have recently engaged in limited talks with Cuban counterparts in Havana, in what is seen as a cautious attempt to manage security and economic issues even as political tensions remain high.

Legal experts say even if an indictment is approved, it would be difficult to enforce, given Raúl Castro’s location and the long-standing political divide between both countries.