US Intel Report Says ‘Havana Syndrome’ Not Caused By Foreign Weapon

A 2018 State Department report said the noises US diplomats heard were likely local crickets

A US intelligence report has concluded that headaches and other symptoms US diplomats have said they experienced, known as “Havana Syndrome,” is not the work of a hostile foreign power using a mysterious energy weapon.

US diplomats in Cuba first reported the symptoms, but other US government employees deployed in other countries later said they had similar symptoms. Those who claimed to have been affected by the Havana Syndrome are seeking compensation and have pushed the theory that it was the doing of a hostile power, such as Russia.

But The Washington Post reported Thursday that five US intelligence services have determined it’s “very unlikely” a foreign power was responsible for the symptoms. Last year, NBC News reported that the CIA found the claims about Havana Syndrome were “unfounded.”

Despite the conclusions of the intelligence agencies, those who have reported the symptoms are still receiving compensation. The Post report said that “the Biden administration would continue to ensure personnel receive medical care and that it would process requests under a law that compensates government employees who experienced symptoms and in some cases had to stop working. Some individuals will be eligible for payments in the six-figure range.”

Many of the diplomats that reported the symptoms in Cuba said they heard strange buzzing sounds. A 2018 State Department report that was obtained by Buzzfeed found that the culprit of the loud noise was likely local crickets. Separately, a group of scientists analyzed a recording of the sound and concluded that the noise was the call of a Caribbean species of cricket.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.