Sonic Attacks on Diplomats:Tillerson calls on Cuban government to probe

Washington [U.S.A.], August 21 (ANI):U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has called on Cuba's government to figure out who is behind the attacks using sonic weapon on American and Canadian diplomats serving in Havana.

Cuba's government, for its part, has said it is not responsible and that it would never allow allow such weapons to be used against diplomats within its borders.Cuban officials pledged to investigate the incidents.

More than 10 US diplomats and family members received treatment after the months of harassing attacks, which began in mid-November 2016 and stopped this spring, CNN quoted U.S.officials.

The report comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Cuba in the wake of President Trump's warning that he will roll back the U.S. opening to Cuba initiated by the previous administration of Obama.

The US believes several State Department employees at the US embassy in Havana were subjected to an "acoustic attack" using sonic devices that left at least two with such serious health problems they needed to be brought back to the US for treatment,CNN quoted State Department officials.

A US government official told that the who, where and when point to "an attack" -- the US is investigating whether a third country was involved as "payback" for actions the US has taken elsewhere and to "drive a wedge between the US and Cuba.

One official said the employees could have suffered permanent hearing loss as a result.

The Washington Post has reported in August the State Department expelled two Cuban officials from the country's embassy in Washington, D.C. in May after U.S. diplomats originally reported their symptoms.

The sophisticated device that operated outside the range of audible sound was deployed either inside or outside the residences of US diplomats living in Havana, according to three US officials.

It said the weapon causes headaches and nausea in addition to hearing loss, and that the effects were immediate.(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI