American officials believe Russia was behind the mysterious sonic attacks on diplomats
U.S. intelligence officials reportedly believe Russia was responsible for attacks that have caused American diplomats in Cuba and China to become mysteriously ill over the past two years.
Starting in 2016, Americans at the U.S. Embassy in Havana began to experience hearing loss, impaired vision, dizziness, and symptoms of brain injury that could not be explained. The most recent incident occurred earlier this year, when the U.S. withdrew several diplomats from China after a government worker experienced signs of a brain injury, per The Washington Post. In total, 26 people have been affected.
Now, NBC News is reporting that Russia is the primary suspect of these attacks, based on evidence obtained by the intelligence community throughout a long investigation. But there's not enough proof yet for the U.S. to make this accusation publicly, NBC News reports. Officially, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told The Hill that the U.S. has made "no determination" about who is responsible.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The U.S. government reportedly believes that some sort of electromagnetic weapon was used, but officials are doing tests on animals with various devices to try to figure out for sure how the attacks were carried out, NBC News reports.
The mysterious attacks had prompted the State Department to permanently reduce much of the Havana embassy's staff earlier this year, as well as cease regular visa services and issue a travel advisory warning Americans to exercise "extreme caution" when traveling to Cuba.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Understanding and saving the biocrust, Earth's living skin
The Explainer The planet's protective layer is being destroyed
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: September 10, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku hard: September 10, 2024
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published