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U.S. will expel 15 Cuban diplomats, escalating tensions over mystery illnesses

The Washington Post: The State Department will expel 15 Cuban diplomats after dramatically reducing the U.S. mission in Cuba last week, citing unexplained injuries among American personnel there.

The decision announced Tuesday is certain to deepen the two countries’ rift over what the State Department has called “specific attacks” on U.S. diplomats during the past 10 months. The United States has not blamed Cuba, which has denied any involvement and has cooperated with FBI agents dispatched there.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement that the expulsion was “due to Cuba’s failure to take appropriate steps to protect our diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention. This order will ensure equity in our respective diplomatic operations.”

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