After intense recovery efforts, a U.S. Army vehicle that had gone missing in a boggy area of Lithuania has been successfully retrieved. The fate of the four soldiers remains uncertain.
Lithuania Successfully Recovers U.S. Army Vehicle Linked to Missing Soldiers
Lithuania Successfully Recovers U.S. Army Vehicle Linked to Missing Soldiers
In a significant development, Lithuania's Defense Ministry reports the recovery of a U.S. military vehicle that had been missing along with four American soldiers for nearly a week.
Lithuania’s Defense Ministry confirmed the retrieval of the U.S. military vehicle on Sunday night, almost a week after the American soldiers traveling in it were reported missing. The vehicle, an M88 Hercules, was found submerged in a muddy bog and was recovered amid ongoing searches that began on Tuesday following its disappearance during a training mission.
The missing soldiers are believed to be from the First Brigade of the Third Infantry Division. Their training exercises occurred near Lithuania’s border with Belarus, a nation allied with Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The military indicated that the soldiers might have veered off the road, becoming trapped after their vehicle got stuck in the bog.
In order to recover the vehicle, U.S. Navy divers bravely went into the bog, battling dense mud while securing cables to assist in the recovery process. However, they faced significant challenges due to the muckiness of the terrain, necessitating additional efforts that involved excavating and pumping water from the bog. On Sunday, rescue operations encountered another setback when a landslide complicated efforts, according to Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene.
The initial search and rescue operation involved a diverse team comprising both Lithuanian and U.S. military forces, including helicopters and dive teams. The collaborative effort has highlighted the commitment of NATO allies, with Poland also lending military engineers to assist in the recovery efforts.
In the backdrop, concerns have emerged in Lithuania and other Eastern European nations about potential changes to NATO’s strength and cohesion. Despite the challenges faced, President Gitanas Nauseda of Lithuania emphasized how alliances are crucial during such incidents, underscoring the importance of cooperative action among NATO member states.
As the search continues for the missing soldiers, both the U.S. and Lithuanian forces remain committed to ensuring their safe recovery.
