4 U.S. soldiers confirmed dead during training in Lithuania: NATO chief

27/3/2025 6:02

Four American soldiers who went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania on Tuesday have been confirmed dead, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday.

"We do not yet know the details, but it is terrible news," Rutte told reporters in Warsaw. He added that he had also sent message to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces reported that the soldiers, along with a tracked vehicle, went missing on Tuesday afternoon during a training exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training area in Pabrade, eastern Lithuania.

Search and rescue efforts were launched on the same day, involving Lithuanian and allied troops, helicopters from the Air Force and the State Border Guard Service.

On Wednesday, the suspected location of the incident was identified, and a tracked vehicle was found in a swamp. The operation, led by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, was supported by the Fire and Rescue Department and other agencies.

According to the U.S. military, the soldiers were members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and were participating in scheduled tactical training when the incident occurred.