Four American soldiers died during a NATO training exercise in Lithuania, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed Wednesday.
The troops, based out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, went missing Tuesday while operating an armored M88A2 recovery vehicle near the Belarus border.
Local media reported the vehicle may have become trapped in swampy terrain, leading to a possible drowning.
A large-scale search-and-rescue operation followed, involving Lithuanian forces, NATO allies, helicopters, and border guards. The missing vehicle was later located, confirming the soldiers’ deaths.
