Search for Missing US Soldiers Near Lithuania-Belarus Border Continues after Vehicle Found Underwater

The search for four missing U.S. Army soldiers continues in Lithuania after their M88 armored vehicle was found submerged in a body of water during a training exercise near the Belarus border. The soldiers, part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, went missing on March 25 while conducting maintenance on another vehicle at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte initially suggested the soldiers might be dead, but this was later clarified by NATO, stating that their fate remains unconfirmed, and Lithuanian officials echoed that no bodies have been discovered. Recovery efforts are being complicated by challenging terrain, requiring specialized equipment and support from both U.S. and Lithuanian forces. Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė emphasized the country's commitment to finding the soldiers, treating them as their own. The search operation is ongoing, with local authorities and military personnel collaborating extensively.