Four U.S. Army soldiers, part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division based in Fort Stewart, Georgia, tragically lost their lives during a training exercise in Lithuania, according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The soldiers were last seen on Tuesday operating an armored vehicle near the city of Pabrade, a military site located just six miles from the Belarus border. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but local media speculate that the soldiers may have drowned after their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle became stuck in marshy terrain.
The incident occurred amidst escalating tensions in the region, with Lithuania recently announcing plans to mine its borders with Russia and Belarus. This move mirrors similar defensive actions taken by neighboring Poland, as both countries grapple with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the potential threat of Russian invasion into NATO territory.
Rutte expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and the United States, stating, “This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones.” The details of the incident are still emerging, and Rutte urged patience as investigations continue.
The 1st Armored Brigade was among the first units deployed to NATO’s eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The unit had returned to Europe in January for another nine-month rotation, according to Stars and Stripes.
The soldiers were conducting training exercises in challenging conditions common to Lithuania, Poland, and other parts of the Baltic countries. They were operating an M88A2 Armored-Recovery Vehicle when they vanished around 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, as per Lithuanian media reports.
A significant search and rescue operation was launched, involving troops from Lithuania and other NATO nations, Lithuanian Air Force helicopters, and the country’s State Border Guard Service. The Lithuanian military, with assistance from the Fire Protection and Rescue Department, had narrowed down a possible location by Wednesday.
Lithuania’s armed forces have yet to confirm the deaths but issued a statement expressing gratitude for U.S. support in the region. Giedrimas Jeglinskas, chairman of Lithuania’s National Security and Defense Committee, stated, “We truly appreciate and are grateful for the US presence here. We have created all the conditions for them to increase their military readiness.”
Approximately 16,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in the Baltic region, including 14,000 in Poland, 1,000 in Lithuania, and 700 in Estonia, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.