US withdraws many diplomatic staff from Cuba due to 'mysterious attack'

The US government on September 30 requested the withdrawal of 60% of diplomatic staff at the US Embassy in Havana (Cuba) due to allegations of "mysterious attacks" on diplomats, Reuters reported.

US Embassy in Cuba. Photo: Reuters

"We will be reduced to emergency personnel only until the Cuban government can ensure the safety of our people," a US State Department official told Reuters.

The US Embassy in Cuba will suspend visa processing and issue a travel advisory against Cuba, several US officials told Reuters.

The decision comes after at least 21 US diplomats suffered health problems ranging from mild traumatic brain injuries to hearing loss, dizziness and nausea. At least two Canadian diplomats in Cuba have also suffered similar problems. However, Canada said it has no plans to withdraw its diplomatic staff from Cuba.

There has been widespread speculation that the diplomats were attacked with some kind of sonic device. Cuba has denied any involvement in such attacks and said it will conduct a special investigation after the US abruptly expelled two Cuban diplomats.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US would maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba and the two countries would continue to cooperate to investigate the attacks. Meanwhile, the Cuban government warned that the US withdrawal of most of its diplomatic staff would affect bilateral relations.

Previously, the Washington Post quoted Secretary of State Tillson as saying that the US was considering closing the US Embassy in Havana. However, observers warned that closing the embassy would be a significant step backward in the relationship between the US and Cuba, two former Cold War enemies who recently restored diplomatic relations after more than half a century of embargo. The US only reopened its embassy in Havana in 2015.

According to Dan Tri