Four US Army soldiers have reportedly been found dead after being reported missing during a training exercise in Lithuania.
The four servicemen, who have not been identified by authorities, were with the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
Early reports indicate that a vehicle the servicemen were in may have fallen into a body of water.
The soldiers had previously been reported missing on Tuesday following a training exercise near Pabrade, Lithuania, and a search was conducted by the US Army and Lithuanian authorities.
The soldiers were reportedly carrying out a tactical training routine at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė, which is less than six miles from the border with Belarus.
In a press release issued before the soldiers were reportedly found, Lt. Gen Charles Costanza said he ‘would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations.’
‘It’s this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders,’ Costanza added.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information is confirmed.
Four US Army soldiers have been found dead after being reported missing during a training exercise in Lithuania. Military forces are pictured in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2024
The US military was performing joint-training exercises with Lithuanian forces amid rising tensions between Baltic nations and Russia.
Lithuania, along with neighbors Latvia and Estonia, have often had tense ties with Russia since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
Relations in the region worsened following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has been one of the most vocal European leaders supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces.
