Russia used new and unidentified electromagnetic weapons to inflict pain and trigger health problems among 26 Americans working at the United States Embassy in Havana, Cuba.
The "sonic attacks," which manifested as intense and recurring headaches, began in July 2016 and continue to this day, but not as often as before.
The reason for the Russian electromagnetic assault: abort the warming ties between the U.S. and Cuba. Ties between both countries eventually cooled, but because of president Donald Trump's hostility towards Cuba and not because of the unorthodox Russian sonic attacks.
Suspicion initially fell on Cuba but this has been ruled out due to the sophistication needed to develop such a weapon. Cuba, which is conducting its own investigation, has strongly denied any involvement or knowledge of the sonic attacks.
U.S. intelligence services and the FBI revealed their findings that Russia is likely the cause of these sonic attacks. They presented evidence from communications intercepts that pointed to Russia's involvement. News reports from American media cited three unidentified U.S. officials and two other people briefed on the probe as the sources of this information.
The evidence, however, isn't conclusive enough as of yet for the United States to publicly blame Russia.
The United States is convinced a sophisticated Russian-made electromagnetic weapon was used in the attacks, most likely in coordination with other technologies. The U.S. military is assisting in the investigation by reverse-engineer the weapon (or weapons) and testing it on mice and other animals.
Part of the investigation is taking place at the Directed Energy Directorate of the Air Force Research at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. This lab is equipped with giant lasers and laboratories to test high-power electromagnetic weapons, including microwaves.
In July, U.S. officials said they were investigating health problems among personnel at the U.S. embassy in Havana. At the time, they said they didn't know who or what was behind the mysterious illnesses affecting 26 Americans, or more than half the staff at the embassy. Those affected reported symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, headaches, and fatigue.
Medical experts said these symptoms are consistent with "mild traumatic brain injury."Other sources claim a microwave weapon was used in the attacks because the victims reported symptoms similar to that of a traumatic brain injury.
In October 2017, Trump said he believed Cuba was responsible for the attacks, but offered no evidence to back this claim.
