NATO clarifies misinformation on missing US soldiers in Lithuania
NATO refutes the statements made by Mark Rutte, who reported that American soldiers had 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 stated the comments made by Secretary General Mark Rutte.
- Rescue operations: The US Army, Lithuanian armed forces, and civilian agencies conduct intensive rescue operations to find 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 does not know the details of the incident.
NATO issued a statement clarifying the Secretary General's remarks.
The NATO release stated, "The search continues," highlighting that the fate of the soldiers is still unknown. "We regret any confusion about remarks @SecGenNATO delivered on this today," it added.
Earlier, the US Army Command in Europe and Africa also refuted the words 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, Lithuanian armed forces, and civilian agencies conduct intensive rescue operations. The armoured vehicle, Hercules, in which the soldiers were travelling, was 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 Associated Press emphasises that no official statement has yet confirmed that these soldiers are deceased.
