Quick Read
- Pentagon acquired a device for an ‘eight-figure’ sum (tens of millions) through a covert operation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
- The device is suspected of causing ‘Havana Syndrome’ symptoms, officially known as ‘anomalous health incidents’ (AHIs).
- It produces pulsed radio waves, is portable (fits in a backpack), and contains Russian components, though not entirely Russian-made.
- The acquisition has reignited intense debate, with victims feeling gaslit by previous government assessments that largely ruled out foreign adversaries.
- Former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos, a victim, has heavily criticized the US government’s handling of the issue and called for accountability.
In a development that has sent ripples through Washington and ignited fresh hope among victims, the Pentagon has spent over a year meticulously analyzing a mysterious device, acquired through a covert operation, that some investigators suspect is the root cause of ‘Havana Syndrome.’ This baffling phenomenon, officially termed ‘anomalous health incidents’ (AHIs), has plagued U.S. intelligence personnel, diplomats, and service members across the globe for years, leaving a trail of debilitating symptoms and unanswered questions.
The acquisition, a high-stakes undercover purchase by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) funded by the Pentagon, involved an ‘eight-figure’ sum – tens of millions of dollars – during the final weeks of the Biden administration. This significant investment underscores the gravity with which defense officials view the potential implications of this equipment. While not entirely Russian-manufactured, the device notably incorporates Russian components, adding a layer of geopolitical intrigue to an already complex mystery, as reported by CNN. The equipment’s portability, reportedly fitting within a backpack, addresses a long-standing technical hurdle that complicated earlier assessments of directed-energy attacks.
Unraveling the Enigma: Havana Syndrome’s Troubling History
Havana Syndrome first surfaced in late 2016 when American diplomats stationed in Havana began reporting a bizarre array of symptoms consistent with head trauma: dizziness, severe headaches, nausea, vertigo, and ringing in the ears. These initial reports quickly proliferated, with cases documented worldwide in subsequent years, transforming an isolated incident into a global concern. The lack of visible injuries, combined with the delayed onset of comprehensive medical testing, has consistently hampered diagnosis and attribution, leaving medical professionals struggling to define these ‘anomalous health incidents’ clearly.
For nearly a decade, intelligence agencies and the Defense Department grappled with whether these officials were experiencing directed-energy attacks by hostile nations. The debate has been fierce and often contentious. A 2022 intelligence panel investigating AHI causes concluded that some episodes could ‘plausibly’ have resulted from ‘pulsed electromagnetic energy’ emitted externally. However, the broader intelligence community, in a public statement in 2023, announced it could not link cases to foreign adversaries, ruling it ‘unlikely’ that unexplained illnesses stemmed from targeted enemy campaigns. This assessment largely remains intact through January 2025, even as officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) acknowledge they cannot ‘rule out’ the possibility in limited cases.
This shifting narrative has deeply angered victims, many of whom firmly believe that substantial evidence of Russian attacks on American personnel has been ignored or downplayed by the U.S. government. They see the acquisition of this new device as a potential vindication, a tangible piece of evidence that might finally validate their experiences and suffering.
Victims’ Voices: The Fight for Recognition and Accountability
The human cost of Havana Syndrome is immense, marked by career-ending injuries and a profound sense of betrayal. Marc Polymeropoulos, a decorated former CIA officer, stands as a prominent voice among the victims. He publicly disclosed injuries he claims he sustained in a 2017 Moscow attack, experiencing intense vertigo, nausea, blinding headaches, and ringing in his ears – symptoms now synonymous with Havana Syndrome. Polymeropoulos recounts how that night in his hotel room effectively ended his 26-year career.
His personal ordeal highlights a deeply troubling aspect of the government’s response. Polymeropoulos alleges that the CIA initially denied him treatment, leading to what he describes as a ‘moral injury.’ He claims that while officials privately acknowledged the reality of their suffering in National Security Council meetings, the public stance continued to ‘gaslight’ victims. ‘If the [US government] has indeed uncovered such devices, then the CIA owes all the victims a f***ing major and public apology for how we have been treated as pariahs,’ Polymeropoulos told CNN.
The former CIA veteran has been a vocal critic of what he calls the Biden administration’s ‘horrific cover-up,’ even urging the incoming Trump administration to expose the truth. He points to a stark contradiction: while the administration publicly denied the existence of Havana Syndrome, it quietly compensated victims and their family members under the HAVANA Act, enacted in October 2021. This legal framework implicitly certified the reality of these incidents, even as official pronouncements maintained skepticism about their cause. Polymeropoulos’s frustration is palpable, stating, ‘I wish I’d been shot. Then people would’ve believed me.’ His words underscore the profound psychological toll of being disbelieved and dismissed by the very government one served.
New Scrutiny, Broader Implications, and Lingering Questions
The renewed attention on Havana Syndrome also comes amid a separate, though related, controversy. Following a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reshared a social media post alleging the U.S. used a ‘mystery’ sonic or sound-based weapon during a January 3 raid that led to the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The account described immediate physical effects on Maduro’s guards, including nosebleeds and vomiting blood, consistent with head trauma despite the absence of visible injuries. This episode, whether factual or speculative, has fueled public discussion about advanced, non-traditional weapons, inevitably overlapping with the ongoing scrutiny of the device being tested in relation to Havana Syndrome.
Officials now face a pressing concern: if the technology behind these alleged attacks proves viable, it may have proliferated. This means that multiple countries could possess access to equipment capable of inflicting career-ending injuries on American officials, posing a significant national security threat. The exact origins of the acquired device remain unclear, though HSI’s extensive global collaboration with the Defense Department for operations, including investigations into the proliferation of U.S.-controlled technology overseas, suggests a complex intelligence trail.
The Pentagon, HSI, and DHS have been contacted for comment, while the CIA has declined. The lack of a clear definition for AHIs, coupled with the challenges of conducting timely medical tests after symptoms begin, continues to complicate a full understanding of the physical processes involved. As testing continues, the intelligence community and victims alike await a long-delayed assessment from the ODNI, hoping it will finally shed light on this vexing mystery.
The acquisition and testing of this device represent a pivotal moment in the Havana Syndrome saga. While the U.S. intelligence community previously downplayed the likelihood of a coordinated foreign attack, the substantial investment in and rigorous analysis of this equipment suggest a significant shift in perspective. For the victims, who have endured years of pain, skepticism, and a profound sense of abandonment, this development offers not just a glimmer of hope for answers, but also a potent symbol of potential vindication and a long-overdue reckoning for how their experiences have been handled.