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By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
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Four U.S. Army soldiers have been confirmed dead after going missing during a NATO training exercise in Lithuania, U.S. Army and NATO officials announced Wednesday. The incident took place near the city of Pabradė, close to the Belarusian border, heightening security concerns in a region already on edge due to ongoing tensions from Russia's war in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed the deaths, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
Why It Matters
The training exercise took place just six miles from the Belarus border, a location that has gained strategic importance as NATO fortifies its eastern flank. The soldiers' vehicle was later located underwater, according to a U.S. Army statement, which confirmed the ongoing investigation into the incident.
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The soldiers were part of a nine-month rotational deployment that began in January. Their brigade has trained in difficult terrain across Lithuania, Poland, and other Baltic nations since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
What To Know
The soldiers, members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, were conducting tactical training maneuvers Tuesday evening when their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle became submerged in swampy terrain.
While visiting Warsaw, Rutte expressed condolences, saying his thoughts are with the soldiers' families and with the United States.
"The news came out about four American soldiers who were killed in an incident in Lithuania. This is still early news, so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones," Rutte told reporters in Warsaw.
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Lithuanian military officials have yet to confirm the exact cause of the deaths, but local media reported that the vehicle may have been trapped in marshland, leading to a potential drowning.
"The possible location of the incident has been identified, and search and rescue is underway," Lithuanian military spokesman Major Gintautas Ciunis told local news agency Elta.
The tragedy comes amid increased NATO military activity in the region. Lithuania recently announced it was mining its borders with both Belarus and Russia, joining neighboring Poland in bolstering defenses due to fears of Russian incursion into NATO territory.
What People Are Saying
Giedrimas Jeglinskas, chairman of Lithuania's National Security and Defense Committee, said in a statement: "The aim is to reduce the likelihood of such things, but such things are not impossible. If there was some kind of accident, lessons are learned, and safety requirements are increased."
Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps, said in a statement: "I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations."
What Happens Next
The Pentagon has not yet released the identities of the deceased soldiers pending notification of their families. The Army has confirmed an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances that led to the deaths.
Update 3/24/25, 3:37 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
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