A vehicle linked to four missing American soldiers has been found in Lithuania, according to the US Army. The soldiers were conducting training exercises at the Pabrade training ground, which is near the border with Belarus, when they went missing. The search for them is still ongoing.
The soldiers, who belong to the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, were operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle during their training when the incident occurred. The US Army confirmed that this vehicle has now been located in Lithuania.
Lithuania’s military is conducting an intensive rescue operation. They have stated that efforts to find the soldiers will continue through the night. The Chief of Defence of Lithuania, Raimundas Vaiksnoras, emphasized the importance of US troops in Lithuania, saying, "Their soldiers are like our soldiers to us." He assured that no effort would be spared in the search.
Earlier, there was some confusion regarding the soldiers’ status. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte mentioned the possibility of their deaths, but a spokesperson later clarified that he was only referring to unconfirmed reports. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene confirmed that no bodies had been found, stating, "It would be wrong to say that the soldiers are dead."
US troops have been stationed in Lithuania since 2019 as part of ongoing military rotations. The situation remains tense, and both US and Lithuanian forces are committed to locating the missing soldiers as quickly as possible.