Dramatic search: Four US soldiers in Lithuania missing-tanks in the mud!

Dramatic search: Four US soldiers in Lithuania missing-tanks in the mud!

In Lithuania, four missing US soldiers are sought, which have not been found since Tuesday afternoon. Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene has denied reports on the death of the soldiers and emphasizes that no confirmed information and no corpses have been found so far. The incident occurred during a missionary NATO exercise near Pabrade, where the soldiers disappeared after a planned tactical training. US defense minister Pete Hegseth said on the platform X that the four soldiers are missing and that one will not rest until they are found.

The Lithuanian military and the police support the search that is described as technically complex because an armored vehicle, an M88 Hercules Mountain Pancer, is about five meters deep in the mud of a water. There is a gas line next to the water, which also makes the situation more difficult. Sakalien and Prime Minister Gintauta's Paluckas visited the practice area to get a picture of the situation. So far, it has not been confirmed whether soldiers are in the vehicle, reporting of Lithuanian media that a fatal accident could have happened.

Unclear about the incident

NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte caused confusion when he confirmed the death of the soldiers on Wednesday, who had been missing since Tuesday. These statements were later corrected by a NATO spokeswoman and the search continued to be treated as a priority concern. In recent years, the United States has been active in the rotary process in the Baltic States and regularly stationed units at the NATO east border. There is currently a US battalion in Pabrade that is integrated into the ongoing exercises.

The 1st brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, from which the missing soldiers come, was sent to Europe in January 2025 to strengthen the NATO east flank. The accident has brought the security protocols into focus on NATO exercises, since experts demand a review of the training conditions to avoid similar incidents. Investigations are underway and further details are expected. The soldiers' families are informed, but their names have not yet been published.

Lithuania has established itself as an important location for NATO training operations, especially due to the geographical proximity to Belarus. During the search for the missing soldiers, the US military also offered its support and expressed its sympathy. In view of the current geopolitical situation and the strict security precautions, the effectiveness of such exercises has become of great importance.

In addition, NATO plans major exercises to strengthen defense ability in the region. One of the biggest exercises since the Cold War, "Steadfast Defender" is due to take place from February to May 2024. In this context, more than 90,000 soldiers are planned, with the focus on the alarm and laying of both national and multinational land forces. Such maneuvers are part of the strategies to secure euro-Atlantic security and to demonstrate the willingness to operational towards potential threats.