The armored vehicle used by four missing U.S. soldiers during training in Lithuania has been found submerged in water at a training area, AFP reported on the 26th (local time).
In a statement released that day, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Public Affairs Office said, “The M88 Hercules armored vehicle operated by the four missing U.S. soldiers has been found submerged in water at a training area,” and that recovery efforts are underway.
They added, “The search for the soldiers is continuing.”
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters during a visit to Warsaw, Poland, that four American soldiers had died in a training accident in Lithuania but then reversed himself.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) that day, a NATO spokesperson said, “The Secretary General intended to mention new news, not to confirm the fate of the missing American soldiers who have not yet been confirmed,” and added, “We regret any confusion caused by the Secretary General’s remarks.”
In a statement that day, the Lithuanian military authorities said that they had received a report the previous afternoon that four soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division and an armored vehicle had gone missing while conducting tactical training near Babrad, eastern Belarus, and that local military and police were searching.
Lieutenant General Charles Costanza, commander of the U.S. 5th Corps, said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the Lithuanian military and emergency responders who quickly assisted in the search operation.”
More than 1,000 U.S. troops are stationed on rotation in Lithuania, a member of NATO and the European Union (EU).