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The CIA believes it is unlikely that Russia or another foreign adversary is using microwaves or other forms of directed energy to attack hundreds of American officials who attribute symptoms associated with brain injuries to what's come to be known as "Havana syndrome."
The agency's findings, according to one official familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence, drew immediate criticism from those who have reported cases and from advocates who accuse the government of long dismissing the array of ailments.
Investigators have studied hundreds of reported cases reported globally by U.S. intelligence officers, diplomats, and military personnel and whether the injuries are caused by exposure to forms of directed energy. People affected have reported headaches, dizziness, nausea, and other symptoms consistent with traumatic brain injuries.
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Tourists ride classic convertible cars on the Malecon beside the United States Embassy in Havana, Cuba, Oct. 3, 2017. The CIA believes it’s unlikely that Russia or another adversary are broadly using directed energy to attack hundreds of U.S. personnel who have reported brain injuries and symptoms that have come to be known as "Havana syndrome. (AP Photo/Desmond Boylan, File)
Most cases under review by intelligence officers have been linked to other known medical conditions or to environmental factors, the official said, adding that in some cases, medical exams have revealed undiagnosed brain tumors or bacterial infections.
A few dozen cases are unresolved and remain under active investigation, the official said. The involvement of a foreign adversary has not been ruled out in those cases.
In a statement, CIA Director William Burns said the agency's commitment to its officers' health was "unwavering."
"While we have reached some significant interim findings, we are not done," Burns said. "We will continue the mission to investigate these incidents and provide access to world-class care for those who need it."
Mark Zaid, a Washington lawyer representing intelligence officers who have reported cases, asserted that the CIA is having a "revolt within its workforce" among people who do not want to take overseas assignments for fear of being attacked.
Of the findings, Zaid tweeted, "Too bad this is contradicted by classified information that CIA won’t release." Zaid did not immediately respond to a message seeking further comment.
"Havana syndrome" cases date to a series of reported brain injuries in 2016 at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba. Incidents have been reported by diplomats, intelligence officers, and military personnel in the Washington area and at global postings. Russia has long been suspected by some intelligence officers of using directed energy devices to attack U.S. personnel.
Democrats and Republicans have pressed President Joe Biden’s administration to determine who and what might be responsible and to improve treatment for victims. Biden last year signed a bill intended to provide better medical care for victims. The State Departmen t also appointed a new coordinator for its review into cases after victims criticized the previous coordinator.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after talks with the foreign ministers of Great Britain, Germany and France at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Jan.20, 2022. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP)
At a news conference Thursday in Berlin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that after meeting with people who had reported cases, "there is no doubt in my mind that they have had real experiences, real symptoms and real suffering."
"We are going to continue to do everything we can, with all the resources we can bring to bear, to understand, again, what happened, why, and who might be responsible," Blinken said. "And we are leaving no stone unturned."