Overview

• Three of the four American soldiers who went missing during a NATO training exercise in Lithuania have been confirmed dead after their vehicle was recovered from a swamp.
• The M88 Hercules recovery vehicle was submerged under several meters of water and mud near Pabradė, close to the Belarusian border, during the exercise on March 25.
• The six-day recovery operation required heavy machinery, divers, and over 138 hours of continuous effort due to the challenging swamp terrain.
• The identities of the deceased soldiers have not been disclosed, as families are being notified, while the search for the fourth missing soldier is ongoing.
• The incident highlights the operational risks associated with NATO deployments in Eastern Europe, where over 1,000 U.S. troops are stationed.