Overview

• Four U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division went missing on Tuesday during a tactical training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania, close to the Belarus border.
• The soldiers were last seen operating an M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicle at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground.
• A coordinated search-and-recovery operation involving U.S. Army personnel, Lithuanian Armed Forces, and local law enforcement is ongoing.
• Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza expressed gratitude to Lithuanian responders, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Lithuanian military cooperation.
• The incident highlights the strategic significance of NATO operations in the Baltic region, a focal point of geopolitical tensions with Russia and Belarus.