Status: 03/01/2023 8:31 p.m
1,500 cases in 96 countries: Many US embassy employees fell ill with “Havana Syndrome”. However, a US intelligence investigation has found no explanation for the mysterious illness.
The US intelligence services do not assume that a “foreign adversary” is responsible for the so-called “Havana Syndrome” among American diplomats. It is about hundreds of cases of brain injuries and other symptoms reported by American foreign officials in several countries.
Since 2016, numerous US diplomats living in Havana, Cuba, and their families have complained of mysterious headaches, hearing loss, dizziness and nausea. The embassy staff was then reduced to a minimum. Similar complaints were later reported elsewhere in the world. For a long time, the US government did not rule out that this could be some kind of attack – but it was always emphasized that they did not know what was behind it.
No evidence of directed energy
A newly released intelligence report challenges long-held suspicions by those affected that they may have been the target of a global campaign by Russia or another country to attack Americans with some sort of directed energy.
Instead, the report said there was more evidence that foreign countries were not involved. In some cases, the US found confusion among opposing governments over allegations and suspicions that “Havana Syndrome” may have been an American conspiracy.
Secret services checked 1,500 cases worldwide
There is still no plausible explanation for the cases, the Washington Post previously reported. It was a frustrating “puzzle,” the newspaper quoted an employee as saying. The secret services are open to new ideas and evidence.
Investigators examined around 1,500 cases in 96 countries. In many cases, possible explanations other than a campaign were found, such as medical illnesses, malfunctioning air conditioning and ventilation systems, or electromagnetic waves emanating from harmless devices like a computer mouse. According to the officials, about two dozen cases were investigated particularly closely. None of them have been linked to an enemy attack. He also found no evidence that an adversary of the United States possessed a weapon that could cause the reported symptoms.
CIA Director William Burns said the health concerns of US government employees and their families are not being questioned. We will continue to pay attention to the health and well-being of CIA employees and ensure their medical care.
Victims speak of intentional attack
Last year, an independent panel of experts came to the conclusion that some cases of “Havana Syndrome” could have been triggered by a kind of targeted use of electromagnetic radiation. Many of those affected claim that they were the victims of a premeditated attack. Again and again, Russia is mentioned as a possible cause of the complaints.
According to the Washington Post, the current report almost completely contradicts this thesis. The diplomats concerned have repeatedly accused the US government of downplaying the symptoms.