News Context: In January 2026, the investigation into Havana Syndrome (technically called Anomalous Health Incidents or AHIs) took a dramatic turn. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed it is testing a "portable, backpack-sized device" acquired via a covert operation, which emits pulsed radio-frequency (RF) energy.
- The Shift in Narrative: For years, U.S. intelligence was divided. A 2023 report suggested a foreign adversary was "unlikely" to be involved. However, the discovery of this physical device—reportedly containing components of Russian origin—reopens the possibility of targeted directed-energy attacks.
- Mechanism: The device uses high-energy microwaves or pulsed radio waves to disrupt the nervous system. Victims often describe a "drilling" sound or a "marble circling a metal funnel" before experiencing dizziness, nausea, and cognitive impairment.
- Official Status: While the NIH recently found no consistent MRI-detectable brain damage in all victims, the HAVANA Act of 2021 continues to provide compensation. The new device testing is the first time investigators have a "plausible physical mechanism" to analyze.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
