Recovery Mission Underway for Four Missing U.S. Soldiers in Lithuania

The search for four missing U.S. Army soldiers in Lithuania has shifted from a rescue operation to a recovery mission after their M88 Hercules armored vehicle was found submerged in a swampy area. The soldiers, part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, went missing during a training exercise on Tuesday. Recovery efforts involve hundreds of personnel from both U.S. and Lithuanian forces, facing challenges posed by the terrain and environmental conditions. Initial reports of the soldiers' death were clarified by NATO, which stated that their status remains unknown. U.S. Army Major General Curtis Taylor expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts in the recovery, emphasizing the tragic impact on the soldiers' families and friends. The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe amid rising tensions with Russia.