Four US troops have been found dead in Lithuania after they reportedly went missing during a training mission.
The soldiers had disappeared around 4.45pm yesterday. A search operation was launched to try and find the tracked vehicle they were travelling in. The Embassy in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius has yet to confirm the deaths, only releasing a statement confirming the four soldiers were missing.
A “possible location” of where they are believed to have disappeared has been identified during the search, carried out by both Lithuanian and US assets. Helicopters from the Air Force and State Border Guard Service had also been sent out to locate the missing military personnel.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces said today: “Currently, the possible location of the incident has been identified and a search and rescue operation is underway, led by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, with additional capabilities from the Fire Protection and Rescue Department and other institutions."
V Corps Commanding General Charles Constanza praised the work of the Lithuanians in responding to the disappearance.
He said: “I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations.
"It's this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders."
Major Gintautas Ciunis, spokesman for the Lithuanian Armed Forces confirmed to local media that the missing soldiers were "foreign" but did not disclose further details.
Lithuanian police have reportedly been informed and are now attempting to clarify the circumstances surrounding the soldiers.
Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence, Giedrimas Jeglinskas said: “There is a request from the military and the forces that were conducting the drills to exercise discretion at this time and not to make any comments.
"Le'ts be respectful. The police and all the elements that have to be involved are involved, these investigations are involved."
The soldiers belong to the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division and were participating in "scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident", according to the US Military.
