U.S. and Lithuanian forces found the vehicle piloted by four missing U.S. soldiers Wednesday who vanished during a training exercise in Lithuania, the Army said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The U.S. Army in Europe and Africa said the M88 Hercules in question was found submerged in a body of water, but also added the search for the lost soldiers was still ongoing. The soldiers, members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division of the Army, were first reported missing Tuesday in the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area just ten kilometers from the nation’s border with Belarus, Lithuanian outlet Defli reported.
The Army added that it hasn’t been able to access the inside of the vehicle, a spokesperson told the DCNF. The spokesperson did not confirm or deny any casualties.
“Recovery efforts are underway by U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies,” the Army said in the statement. “The 3rd Inf. Div. is continuing to keep families of the Soldiers informed on the status of search efforts.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters on Wednesday in Warsaw that the soldiers were dead, according to the Associated Press. The Lithuanian Armed Forces, however, told the DCNF in response to the comments that there was “no evidence or information confirming the death of the troops.”
Delfi also reported, citing unnamed sources, that the soldiers had died.
The troops were reportedly operating the vehicle at the time of the disappearance, according to Delfi. The vehicle is designed to retrieve downed vehicles and conduct repairs under battlefield conditions, weighing over 140,000 pounds.
The training area is located in a particularly swampy area of Lithuania, according to Delfi. Lithuania is a NATO member state along with its Baltic neighbors, Latvia and Estonia.
“I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations,” Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general, said in a statement during the search. “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.”
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