CIA director says there will be consequences if Russia is behind 'Havana Syndrome' attacks

The director of the CIA has warned Russian intelligence agencies that there will be "consequences" if they are behind the recent "Havana Syndrome" attacks that have plagued U.S. officials in embassies across the world.

William Burns issued the confidential warning to Russia's Federal Security Service and the country's Foreign Intelligence Service during a November meeting in Moscow about Russian troops organizing near Ukraine, according to U.S. officials speaking to The Washington Post.

Burns reportedly said these consequences would only occur "if" Russia was behind the attacks, signaling that the U.S. is still unsure who the perpetrator is behind the mysterious health complications occurring among diplomats and staff members. Moscow has denied involvement in the attacks.

Burns expressed to Russian officials that if they were behind the mysterious attacks, it would be unacceptable because they cause brain injury and trauma, the Post reported.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently set up a task force to investigate what officials are now calling Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs), with the belief the attacks could be coordinated, according to reporting by The Hill. President Biden also signed into law the Havana Act, which compensates staff injured during an AHI.

Around 200 U.S. staff and officials have reportedly described hearing loud noises or feeling a strange and intense pressure. Some have theorized that the attacks are the result of a high-pitched sonic frequency, an energy weapon or some kind of pulsating radio frequency.

The mysterious AHIs, first reported in Havana, Cuba, in 2016, have now been reported on every continent except for Antarctica. Most recently, staff with the Department of State reported symptoms consistent with AHI in Colombia, which delayed Vice President Harris's trip to Vietnam.