The United States has sharply increased intelligence-gathering flights off the coast of Cuba in recent months, according to a CNN analysis of publicly available aviation data, a development that is drawing new attention amid growing tensions between Washington and Havana.
CNN reported that the U.S. Navy and Air Force have conducted at least 25 surveillance missions near Cuba since Feb. 4, citing flight tracking data from FlightRadar24. Many of the flights reportedly took place near Havana and Santiago de Cuba, with some aircraft operating within roughly 40 miles of the island's coastline.
