Four United States soldiers previously reported missing have been confirmed dead in an incident during training exercises in Lithuania, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced. Speaking during a news briefing at the Warsaw School of Economics, Rutte stated, “Whilst I was speaking, the news came out about four American soldiers who were killed in an incident in Lithuania. That's still early news, so we do not know the details, but obviously this is really terrible news, and our thoughts are with families and loved ones.”

Rutte also noted that he has sent a message to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding the incident.

According to a statement from the US Embassy in Vilnius, the soldiers were part of the First Brigade, Third Infantry Division. They had gone missing during a scheduled tactical training operation near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade. The city lies approximately 10 kilometers from the border with Belarus.

The incident has raised concerns, although details about what occurred remain scarce. Both US and NATO officials are expected to conduct further investigations to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The loss has drawn condolences from international officials, with Rutte expressing solidarity and sympathy on behalf of NATO. The event underscores the risks faced by military personnel during routine operations, even outside of active combat zones.