CIA Says Most ‘Havana Syndrome’ Cases Likely Not Malicious
A CIA investigation into a mysterious illness claimed to affect multiple U.S. officials working overseas showed the majority of cases were environmental or caused by prior medical conditions. But the probe is ongoing and it is still possible some cases were caused by foreign action.
The C.I.A. has found that most cases of the mysterious ailments known as Havana syndrome are unlikely to have been caused by Russia or another foreign adversary, agency officials said, a conclusion that angered victims. A majority of the 1,000 cases reported to the government can be explained by environmental causes, undiagnosed medical conditions or stress, rather than a sustained global campaign by a foreign power, C.I.A. officials said, describing the interim findings of a comprehensive study. (Barnes, 1/20)
鈥淲e assess it is unlikely that a foreign actor, including Russia, is conducting a sustained, worldwide campaign harming U.S. personnel with a weapon or mechanism,鈥 said a senior CIA official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the agency.
That leaves open the possibility that a foreign power could be responsible for cases that cannot be attributed to medical conditions or other factors, the official said. (Harris, 1/20)
An intelligence community source separately cautioned that the CIA鈥檚 interim finding 鈥渄oes not reflect the unanimous consensus of the intelligence community.鈥 President Joe Biden has not yet been briefed on the current assessment. The source added that the intelligence community鈥檚 鈥渆xpert panel鈥 on the issue is ongoing, and that the CIA finding was primarily a 鈥渘arrowing-down鈥 of cases and potential causes. (Ward and Desiderio, 1/19)
