U.S. to slash embassy staff in Cuba, warns travelers of hotel attacks

The United States is yanking more than half its diplomatic personnel from the embassy in Havana and warning Americans not to visit Cuba, saying it’s for their own safety after a string of mysterious injuries harmed at least 21 Americans stationed there.

Senior State Department officials said embassy employees had been “targeted” for “specific attacks” that are ongoing, a significant change from previous characterizations of what happened as simply “incidents.”

Some of the diplomats were injured in a hotel in the Cuban capital near the embassy. The officials said they know of no other guests or employees of the hotel who were affected, but concern others might be hurt led them to issue a warning advising against travel to Cuba.

“It appears U.S. Embassy personnel are most at risk,” said one official, speaking anonymously under State Department ground rules for briefing reporters. “But I can’t rule out the American public traveling in Cuba might (also) be at risk.”

The withdrawal order applies to all nonessential staff, and their families will be ordered to leave. Only “emergency personnel” will stay.

The diplomatic drawdown means no visas will be processed at the embassy because there won’t be enough people to do the work..

The State Department has acknowledged at least 21 Americans connected to the embassy have been hurt in the attacks, the most recent of which occurred in August.

Among the health symptoms are hearing loss, dizziness, tintinitis, balance problems, visual difficulties, headaches, fatigue, cognitive issues and sleeping difficulties.

Nearly 10 months after the first complaints surfaced, neither U.S. or Cuban investigators are any closer to identifying what or who is causing the injuries. Investigators are looking into the possibility they were subjected to some sort of “sonic attack,” among other theories.

Cuba has denied having anything to do with the injuries, and there has been speculation that agents acting on behalf of a third country may be responsible.

The decision to draw down the diplomatic presence in Cuba comes three days after Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez flew to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Cuba said afterward it had investigated but so far found no origin or cause for the health disorders. It said measures had been taken to protect the diplomats remaining.

But apparently Tillerson found those efforts wanting.