A new government report reveals a division within the US intelligence community regarding the cause of Havana Syndrome, a perplexing health issue affecting numerous American diplomats abroad.
A recently released government report highlights differing opinions within the US intelligence community concerning the origins of Havana Syndrome, a mysterious illness impacting American diplomats overseas. While the majority of agencies deem it highly improbable that a foreign power is responsible, some agencies suggest the possibility of an adversary developing a device causing the condition.
The syndrome’s symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, hearing loss, cognitive impairment, and concentration difficulties. Initially observed among US embassy personnel in Havana, Cuba, in 2016, similar cases have since been reported in various countries, including China, Russia, South America, and Australia, totaling over 1,500 globally.
Despite years of investigation, the US government hasn’t definitively determined the cause. Leading hypotheses among the scientific community include environmental factors, stress, and directed-energy weapons.
According to a US National Intelligence Council report, five intelligence agencies conclude that foreign adversary involvement is “very unlikely.”
However, two unnamed agencies hold dissenting views. One agency estimates a roughly equal probability that a foreign actor employed a novel weapon to harm US personnel, while another assesses a similar likelihood of such a weapon’s development by a foreign entity. Importantly, both agencies express low confidence in their assessments.
A senior US official, speaking anonymously to the New York Times, stated that the mystery persists and acknowledged the government’s lack of complete understanding.
Speculation has centered on Russia as a potential culprit, a claim Moscow vehemently denies as unsubstantiated media claims.