According to journalists from Versión Final, Cuban authorities have begun distributing weapons to civilians and are urging residents to prepare for a possible U.S. military invasion.

The outlet reported that, amid the deployment of American military power near the island, Havana has started arming citizens and officially calling on them to get ready for a potential foreign attack.

The authors noted that preparations for a military scenario are already affecting daily life in Havana. Government institutions and various organizations are discussing emergency response plans. According to the publication, these measures are linked to rising tensions around the island and the increased U.S. military presence in the region.

On May 22, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was trying to provoke military aggression against the country. He stressed that Cuba does not pose a threat to U.S. security.

Earlier, former U.S. naval intelligence officer Hal Kempfer did not rule out the possibility of a large-scale U.S. military operation against Cuba. In his view, Washington could launch a series of airstrikes on Cuban military infrastructure, followed by the landing of marines and special forces units with the aim of capturing the country’s leader, Raul Castro.