Missing US soldier's vehicle in Lithuania lies deep underground

(CLO) Hundreds of Lithuanian and American soldiers and dozens of vehicles have been mobilized to search for the M88 Hercules - an armored rescue truck - sunk more than 5 meters underground at the Pabrade training ground, near the Belarus border.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that after draining the swampy area, digging work began on Thursday morning. "We treat the American soldiers as our own soldiers," she stressed.

Lithuanian authorities urgently dig and search for missing US soldiers. Photo: X/theinformant_x

General Raimundas Vaiksnoras, Commander of the Lithuanian Army, said search forces were also checking nearby forests in the hope of finding the missing soldiers.

Poland has sent dozens of soldiers, divers and specialized equipment to support Lithuania. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed this information on social network X.

US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald expressed her gratitude for Lithuania's help, calling it "a model ally". She said the recovery of the vehicle was difficult but affirmed: "As the US Secretary of Defense said, we will not rest until we find the soldiers".

During a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys affirmed that the country is ready to welcome more US troops. When asked about the incident, US President Donald Trump said he had not received a detailed report.

Pabrade is where US units have been regularly conducting exercises since 2019 to increase their military presence in the Baltic region – a sensitive area due to its proximity to Russia and Belarus.

Lithuania, along with Estonia and Latvia, is NATO's closest allies in Eastern Europe, strongly supporting Ukraine and often criticizing Russia.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters, DW)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/xe-cua-linh-my-mat-tich-o-lithuania-nam-sau-duoi-long-dat-post340398.html