NATO dismisses reports of US soldiers' deaths in Lithuania
NATO refutes the statement by Mark Rutte, who reported that American soldiers died in Lithuania. "The search is ongoing," stated a NATO spokesperson in a release.
What do you need to know?
- Disappearance of US soldiers: Four American soldiers are missing during exercises in Lithuania. Their armoured vehicle, Hercules, was found submerged in a body of water.
- NATO's response: NATO issued a statement addressing the words of Secretary General Mark Rutte.
- Rescue operations: The US Army, Lithuanian armed forces, and civilian agencies are conducting intensive rescue operations to locate the soldiers.
What did NATO's secretary general say?
- Whist I was speaking the news came out about four American soldiers who were killed in an incident in Lithuania - said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during his visit to Warsaw. He added that he is not aware of the details of the incident.
NATO issued a statement clarifying the Secretary General's remarks.
"The search continues," stated the NATO release, emphasizing that the fate of the soldiers is still unknown. "We regret any confusion about remarks @SecGenNATO delivered on this today," it was added.
Earlier, the US Army Command in Europe and Africa also refuted the statement of NATO's Secretary General. It stated the US Army is "unable to confirm the deaths of the missing soldiers at this time."
NATO's actions and unconfirmed information regarding soldiers
The US Army, together with Lithuanian armed forces and civilian agencies, is conducting intensive rescue operations. The armoured vehicle, Hercules, that the soldiers were travelling in, was found submerged in a body of water at the training ground in Pabradė.
Lithuanian news portals - without citing any official sources - reported that the missing soldiers are deceased and that their tracked vehicle submerged in water was found in the swamps.
The AP agency emphasizes that no official statement has confirmed yet that these soldiers are deceased.
