FOUR US soldiers are missing feared dead after vanishing during a NATO war drill in Lithuania.
The four Americans disappeared near the border with Russian ally Belarus in their vehicle, sparking a major search by Lithuanian and foreign forces.
APFour US soldiers who went missing during a NATO drill are feared dead according to local media[/caption]
GettyThe four troops went missing in the Baltic country Lithuania[/caption]
GettyAuthorities are yet to confirm that the group of four have been found dead[/caption]
Local media in the Baltic country reported that the four US soldiers had been found dead, according to Delfi.
But authorities are yet to confirm that the missing group have died.
Reports also said that a possible location of the incident has been identified, and a search and rescue operation is underway, according to Lithuanian military spokesperson Major Gintautas Ciunis.
The US embassy confirmed in a social media statement on Wednesday that the four had gone missing at General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground near Pabrade in eastern Lithuania.
They did not confirm when they went missing.
The embassy said on X: “The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident.
“Search and recovery efforts are underway.”
Lithuania’s military said in a statement they were informed on Tuesday that four US soldiers and one tracked vehicle had gone missing.
They said: “A possible location of the incident has been identified and a search and rescue operation is underway.”
Helicopters from the Air Force and the State of Border Guard Service were deployed in the search.
A statement from US Army Europe and Africa explained that the soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of their disappearance.
National Security and Defense Committee chairman Giedrimas Jeglinskas said after the soldiers were reported missing: “We truly appreciate and are grateful for the US presence here.
“We have created all the conditions for them to increase their military readiness.
“Such events do indeed occur during large-scale joint military exercises, not only among the Americans, but also in other armies.
“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.”
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda and Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas confirmed they were receiving information about the search operation.
It is believed that the tracked vehicle they went missing in was a M88 Hercules Armored Recovery Vehicle.
These extremely powerful vehicles are based on the Abrams tanks and can weigh up to 63 tonnes.
They have also been used in the war in Ukraine.
The Baltic countries such as Lithuania are all key NATO members due to their shared borders with Russia or Putin ally Belarus.
Lithuania alone hosts more than 1,000 American troops, who are stationed on a rotational basis.
They have chilly ties with Putin, especially since his bloody war in Ukraine.
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