Four US army soldiers were found dead in Lithuania after disappearing during a training exercise near the border with Belarus, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte confirmed on Wednesday.
The soldiers, assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia, were last seen on Tuesday operating an armored vehicle as part of a tactical exercise near Pabrade, an area approximately six miles from the Belarusian border.
“This is tragic news, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of these brave soldiers,” Rutte said during a visit to Warsaw, Poland. “At this stage, details remain unclear.”
Search and rescue efforts
The US army has yet to issue an official statement regarding the circumstances of their deaths. However, prior to the tragic discovery, the Army had expressed gratitude to Lithuanian forces for their assistance in the search-and-rescue efforts.
“I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid,” Lt general Charles Costanza, V Corps commanding general, said in a statement. “This teamwork underscores the strength of our partnership, regardless of the flags we wear on our shoulders.”
The missing soldiers were reportedly traveling in an M88A2 Armored Recovery Vehicle when they vanished around 7 pm local time on Tuesday, according to Lithuanian media. A large-scale search operation was launched, involving Lithuanian troops, Nato forces, Lithuanian Air Force helicopters, and the country’s State Border Guard Service.
By Wednesday, Lithuanian officials had identified a probable location of the incident. “The possible location of the incident has been identified, and search and rescue is underway,” Lithuanian military spokesman Major Gintautas Ciunis said.
Uncertain circumstances surrounding the incident
While the exact cause of the soldiers’ deaths remains unknown, Lithuanian military officials have refrained from speculation. “Such incidents, while rare, do occur during large-scale military exercises,” said Giedrimas Jeglinskas, chairman of Lithuania’s National Security and Defense Committee. “Lessons will be learned, and safety measures will be reinforced.”
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