Four American soldiers are missing for two days in Lithuania

The Lithuanian army says it is looking for four American soldiers who have disappeared in two days during training in the Baltic state against the backdrop of reports that they have died.

The four soldiers and their tracked vehicle had disappeared on Tuesday afternoon near the Border with Belarus, the military reported earlier. The US army said the vehicle was found in water.

The Lithuanian army told X that “a rescue operation continues intensely” and there is no evidence “confirming the death of the troops.”

NATO chief Mark Rute said he had been informed of their death, but added that there were no further details.

Lithuanian and foreign troops, helicopters and state border guards are located to seek the missing soldiers.

The soldiers trained near Pabrade in Eastern Lithuania with other NATO forces.

The US Army Europe and the Africa Public Affairs Office have confirmed in their statement that soldiers are “conducting planned tactical training at the time of the incident.”

They added that the soldiers were part of the 1st Brigade, the 3rd Infantry Division.

The Lithuanian authorities received a report on the disappearance of soldiers on Tuesday afternoon.

“A possible scene has now been identified,” the Lithuanian military said in a statement earlier Wednesday.

“People () work around the clock. All remain in readiness mode, ready to provide emergency medical care,” said Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovil Sakalien at X.

Lithuania, a NATO and the EU member, hosts more than 1,000 US troops, which are rotated.

“I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian armed forces and the first answers, which quickly came to our aid in our search operations,” said Lieutenant General Charles Costanza, a commander -in -law.