Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier brought new state charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro.

The charges are about the 1996 shooting down of civilian planes.

The planes were flown by Miami-based exiles.

Uthmeier accused Castro, 95, of directing spies.

He said Castro told them to join the exile group Brothers to the Rescue.

He said Castro ordered the attack on its planes.

The state charge is conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

It is based largely on a federal indictment announced in May.

It is unclear if Castro will ever appear in a U.S. courtroom.

Uthmeier said the arrest warrant would limit Castro's ability to leave Cuba.

He said it would block travel to any country with an extradition agreement with the U.S.

He acknowledged that Castro is an older man.

He is probably not looking to come to Miami.

Uthmeier said he stands ready to prosecute the case.

According to the state complaint, Castro gave final approval to shoot down the planes.

At the time he was armed forces minister and first vice president.

Investigators said Cuban intelligence agents were in the Wasp Network.

They joined the exile group and reported flight plans.

On Feb. 24, 1996, three unarmed Cessna aircraft left Opa-Locka Airport.

Outside Cuban territorial waters, Cuban MiGs destroyed two of the planes with air-to-air missiles.

Four people died.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the earlier federal indictment a political stunt.

He said it was meant to justify military aggression against Cuba.

U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones said the federal indictment laid the groundwork for the new state charges.

Castro led Cuba from 2006 until 2018.

Then he handed power to Díaz-Canel.

He retired as head of the Communist Party in 2021.

But many people believe he still holds influence behind the scenes.