Four US Soldiers Missing During Training in Lithuania

A search operation is underway for four missing U.S. Army soldiers after their armored vehicle was found submerged in a body of water near Lithuania’s border with Belarus, officials confirmed Wednesday.

The soldiers, part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, went missing during a scheduled tactical training mission in a military training area near Pabrade. The Lithuanian Armed Forces reported their disappearance at approximately 4:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

Following an extensive search, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command confirmed that the M88 armored recovery vehicle operated by the soldiers was discovered underwater. Recovery efforts are currently being led by U.S. and Lithuanian military personnel, along with local civilian agencies.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that medical teams remain on high alert for any rescue needs.

The U.S. military presence in Lithuania is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, launched in 2014 to strengthen NATO’s Eastern European defenses following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts hundreds of American troops on a rotational basis at Camp Herkus, a U.S. military base established in 2021.

Officials continue search and recovery efforts, with no immediate updates on the soldiers’ status.