Cuba returns lost missile to US

AFP, WASHINGTON: The United States has recovered a missile that was accidentally sent to Cuba in 2014 after a logistical mixup in Europe, bringing an end to an unusual and sensitive episode in the world of defense. The dummy training version of a US Hellfire missile was returned to the US with the “cooperation of the Cuban government,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said Saturday, declining to provide specifics. “The re-establishment of diplomatic relations and the re-opening of our Embassy in Havana allow us to engage with the Cuban government on issues of mutual interest.” Despite the recent thaw in US-Cuban relations, the loss of the missile—even the dummy version—raised the possibility that Havana could pass sensitive military technology on to rivals such as Russia or China. However, the Hellfire missile, commonly fired at ground targets from a helicopter or a drone, has been in service since 1984, and has been delivered to more than two dozen countries. Washington has treated the matter as a logistical mixup, although the US Justice Department is investigating.

Cuba returns lost missile to US

AFP, WASHINGTON: The United States has recovered a missile that was accidentally sent to Cuba in 2014 after a logistical mixup in Europe, bringing an end to an unusual and sensitive episode in the world of defense. The dummy training version of a US Hellfire missile was returned to the US with the cooperation of the Cuban government, State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said Saturday, declining to provide specifics. The re-establishment of diplomatic relations and the re-opening of our Embassy in Havana allow us to engage with the Cuban government on issues of mutual interest. Despite the recent thaw in US-Cuban relations, the loss of the missileeven the dummy versionraised the possibility that Havana could pass sensitive military technology on to rivals such as Russia or China. However, the Hellfire missile, commonly fired at ground targets from a helicopter or a drone, has been in service since 1984, and has been delivered to more than two dozen countries. Washington has treated the matter as a logistical mixup, although the US Justice Department is investigating.