Victims of Havana Syndrome Received Their First Payments in the U.S.
For the first time, the U.S. government has paid compensation to people who claimed to have suffered from the so-called “Havana Syndrome.” The total amount of the payments was nearly $3 million, and the funds were received by employees of U.S. government agencies.
“Havana Syndrome” first came to light several years ago following a series of mysterious incidents involving diplomats and intelligence officers. Despite numerous investigations, there is still no definitive answer as to the causes of this phenomenon.
These are the first official compensation payments the U.S. government has made to federal agency employees in connection with “Havana Syndrome.” The payments were made to individuals who reported health problems while working abroad. The story of “Havana Syndrome” began in 2016. At that time, American diplomats working in Cuba’s capital, Havana, began complaining of strange symptoms. They reported hearing sharp, piercing sounds at night, after which they felt unwell.
The most common symptoms included dizziness, severe headaches, nausea, ringing in the ears, loss of balance, and problems with memory and concentration. Subsequently, similar cases began to be reported in other countries as well. Reports of similar symptoms came from American diplomats and intelligence officials working not only in Cuba but also in China, Vietnam, Austria, Germany, Colombia, and even in Washington, D.C.
Due to this situation, in 2017 the U.S. decided to more than halve the staff at its embassy in Havana. The reason was numerous complaints from diplomats about deteriorating health. A similar situation arose in Canada. Canadian diplomats also reported similar symptoms after working in Havana. As a result, in 2019, the Canadian government significantly reduced the number of staff at its embassy in Cuba.
The emergence of “Havana Syndrome” has given rise to numerous theories. Some speculated that the diplomats might have been victims of a new type of weapon, specifically a sonic or microwave weapon. Others suggested the influence of unknown technologies or even a mass psychogenic effect. However, there is still no single answer to this question.
Last year, most U.S. intelligence agencies and federal departments concluded that the theory of a foreign state intentionally using a new weapon against American diplomats was “highly unlikely.” Despite this, the U.S. government acknowledged that some employees did indeed experience health problems while on duty, so it began paying compensation to those affected.
Experts continue to investigate the nature of “Havana Syndrome.” So far, scientists have been unable to definitively explain what exactly caused the mysterious symptoms, which have been the subject of debate in the U.S. and other countries for nearly a decade, according to the BBC.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran had approached Washington with a request to resume the negotiation process. According to him, the American side agreed to continue the dialogue.
Israel has shared intelligence with the U.S. regarding Iran’s new plan concerning Trump.
Israel is waiting for a signal from Trump to strike Iran.
