Search Underway for 4 Missing US Soldiers in Lithuania
A search operation is ongoing for four US Army soldiers who went missing during a training mission near Lithuania’s border with Belarus. Their armored vehicle was found submerged in water, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The soldiers were last seen in a training area near Pabrade around 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The US Army and Lithuanian authorities later discovered their M88 armored vehicle underwater.
Rescue teams, including the US Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces, and emergency crews, are working together to locate the missing soldiers. According to Lithuania’s Defense Minister, emergency teams drained a swamp where the vehicle was found more than five meters below the surface.
As of Thursday, there has been no confirmation of casualties, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defense stated.
The soldiers belong to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and were taking part in planned tactical training. When asked about the incident, US President Donald Trump said he had not yet been briefed.
Lithuania’s Defense Minister expressed deep concern, saying authorities remain on standby to provide emergency support.
The US has stationed troops in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region since 2014 under “Atlantic Resolve,” a response to Russia’s invasion of Crimea. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts American troops on a rotational basis, with Camp Herkus in Pabrade accommodating up to 1,000 soldiers.
