Search ongoing for missing US soldiers previously thought dead in Lithuania

• U.S. Army soldiers disappeared during training in Lithuania, prompting joint rescue efforts with local forces. The incident occurred near Pabradė, close to the Belarus border.
• Lithuanian officials located the submerged M88 Hercules recovery vehicle, but did not recover any bodies.
• U.S. and Lithuanian leaders expressed concern and support, with President Donald Trump awaiting a briefing on the situation.

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Four U.S. Army soldiers remained missing Thursday morning, March 27, after their armored vehicle disappeared during a training exercise in Lithuania near the Belarus border.

Lithuanian officials said crews located the M88 Hercules recovery vehicle more than 16 feet below the surface of a peat bog near Pabradė, about 30 miles south of Vilnius.

The soldiers were members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, and were engaged in scheduled tactical training when they went missing on Tuesday, March 25.

U.S. and Lithuanian forces, along with civilian rescue teams, continue their recovery operations. As of Thursday, there has been no official confirmation of casualties.

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What has been recovered so far?

Recovery crews discovered the submerged vehicle Wednesday, March 26, after a search of the training area.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said overnight efforts included water pumping and ground reinforcement. She told local media there were “positive signs” that offered hope for a quicker outcome.

Emergency crews drained the swamp where the vehicle was found more than five meters below ground. Lithuanian officials emphasized that no bodies had been recovered and that the operation would continue through the night.

How have US and Lithuanian officials responded?

National leaders expressed concern and support.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas visited the site and said his thoughts were with the soldiers and their families. Šakalienė echoed those sentiments and confirmed that medical teams were on standby.

President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that he had not yet been briefed on the missing soldiers.

A NATO spokesperson later clarified that Secretary-General Mark Rutte was not confirming any deaths after his earlier comments referenced media reports.

Why are US troops training in Lithuania?

The soldiers were stationed at Camp Herkus, a U.S. military camp in Pabradė established in 2021 as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

The U.S. has maintained a rotational presence in Lithuania and other parts of Eastern Europe since 2014, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, has hosted American forces as part of joint deterrence efforts near the Russian and Belarusian borders

Its 421-mile border with Belarus remains strategically significant, especially amid ongoing regional tensions.

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What happens next?

The U.S. Army and Lithuanian military continue their joint rescue mission Thursday.

Lithuanian Chief of Defense Raimundas Vaiksnoras said all available resources were being used to drain the area and locate the soldiers. Lithuania has opened an official investigation into the incident.