Four US soldiers missing in Lithuania during exercises
The United States Army Europe and Africa command reported in a message to WP that they are currently unable to confirm whether the soldiers have died.
The death of the soldiers was earlier reported by NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte. While speaking in Warsaw on Wednesday evening, he stated that four American soldiers had lost their lives in an incident during exercises in Lithuania. Describing the news as tragic, he acknowledged that the details were still unclear. He also expressed his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.
However, the United States Army Europe and Africa command does not confirm this information. The correspondence sent to WP states that, at this time, the deaths of the soldiers cannot be confirmed.
Lithuania: Four American soldiers missing
Four American soldiers went missing on Tuesday afternoon during exercises at the Lithuanian training ground in Pabrade, near the border with Belarus. Lithuanian and foreign military personnel, as well as Air Force and State Border Guard Service helicopters, were dispatched for the search operation.
The training ground in Pabrade is approximately 10 to 15 miles from the border with Belarus.
The Lithuanian army has also not confirmed the reports of the soldiers' deaths. According to a statement released shortly before 6:00 PM Greenwich Time, four American soldiers and a tracked vehicle went missing during exercises at a training ground in Lithuania. The statement emphasized that there is currently no evidence or information verifying the soldiers' deaths and that the Lithuanian Armed Forces are carrying out an intensive rescue operation.
