‘Havana syndrome’ report doubting foreign role was flawed: U.S. officials

U.S. intelligence, military and law enforcement officials unanimously agreed that an intelligence assessment doubting a foreign role in the 'Havana syndrome' should be withdrawn.

U.S. intelligence, military and law enforcement officials unanimously agreed Thursday that an intelligence community assessment doubting a foreign role in so-called “Havana syndrome” illnesses should be withdrawn, after a U.S. lawmaker claimed a “cover-up.”

That view aligns with those of a lawyer representing Canadian diplomats who have long said they were stricken with debilitating symptoms while serving in Cuba — hence the syndrome’s name — and who are pursuing legal action against the Canadian government.

U.S. House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Rick Crawford said the 2025 assessment, which echoed previous reports, was based on “flawed” intelligence and manufactured “unethical” health studies that sought a desired outcome, and needs to be recalled.

“Put simply, it’s my clear opinion that individuals in the intelligence community were involved in a cover-up,” he said at the opening of Thursday’s hearing, which was focused on the U.S. intelligence community’s annual threat assessment.

Asked by Crawford if the assessment should be retracted, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard — whose office is conducting a review of the investigation — said “yes.”

CIA Director John Ratcliffe deferred to Gabbard, noting his agency was supporting the review. FBI Director Kash Patel, acting National Security Agency director Lt.-Gen. William Hartman, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt.-Gen. James Adams all said “yes.”

American foreign service officials and their dependents in Havana began reporting symptoms including headaches, memory loss, mood changes, vision problems, nausea and nosebleeds in 2016.

By early 2017, Canadian diplomats and their families were reporting similar symptoms, which were later claimed by American military, intelligence and diplomatic officials in multiple other countries.