Deaths of Four US Soldiers in Lithuania Confirmed as Recovery Efforts Continue

US, Lithuanian, and Polish forces face significant challenges recovering a submerged military vehicle near the Belarus border following a NATO training accident.

• Four US soldiers were confirmed dead after their M88 Hercules recovery vehicle was found submerged in a swampy area near Pabrade, Lithuania.
• The soldiers, part of the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, went missing during a NATO tactical training exercise on March 25, 2025.
• Recovery operations are ongoing, with multinational teams working to extract the vehicle despite difficult terrain and the presence of a gas pipeline.
• The exact circumstances of the accident remain unclear, though it is believed to have been an operational mishap.
• The incident highlights the risks of military exercises in geopolitically sensitive areas, with the training site located near the Belarus border during heightened regional tensions.

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