A frantic search is underway for four American soldiers who vanished during a NATO training exercise near the Belarusian border, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remains conspicuously absent from crisis response efforts—choosing instead to tour military facilities in Hawaii amid mounting criticism over his handling of classified intelligence.
The missing soldiers, from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were last seen during a tactical drill in a remote Lithuanian training area.
NATO and Lithuanian forces have launched a sweeping operation, deploying drones, helicopters, and ground teams to scour the dense forests near the volatile Belarus border.
The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing U.S. Soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania.
The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area after a search by U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces and other Lithuanian authorities.
Recovery efforts are underway by U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies.
The crisis comes as Hegseth faces intense backlash for allegedly disclosing top-secret operational details ahead of recent U.S. airstrikes in Yemen—a leak that critics say jeopardized mission security.
Rather than addressing the scandal honestly or overseeing the search for the missing troops, Hegseth made a jaunt to Hawaii on what the Pentagon describes as a “routine visit” to Pacific Command facilities.
Journalists traveling with Hegseth report that he has avoided direct questions about both the Yemen leaks and the Lithuania incident, deferring to aides.
Hegseth was caught in a lie after the Atlantic published the transcript of his group chat, showing the times and locations of Houthi targets despite claims that no classified information was revealed to the journalist included in the message group.
Hegseth’s absence has drawn sharp rebukes from lawmakers, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed.
Another top Democrat stated, “At a time when American soldiers are missing in a sensitive region, the Defense Secretary should be fully engaged—not dodging accountability thousands of miles away.”
Further complicating the situation, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte prematurely announced during a press conference in Poland that the missing soldiers had been killed—only for the alliance to retract the statement hours later, citing a “miscommunication.”
Lithuanian officials have not ruled out any scenarios, including accidental border crossing or possible detention by Belarusian forces. Belarus, a close Russian ally, has yet to comment.
With Hegseth unavailable for direct leadership, the Pentagon has relied on Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks to coordinate with NATO and Lithuanian authorities.
Military analysts warn that the missing soldiers’ case requires high-level attention, given escalating tensions with Belarus and Russia’s heavy military presence in the region.
“The disappearance of U.S. troops in such a strategic area demands immediate, top-tier oversight,” said retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling. “If the Defense Secretary is preoccupied with damage control over his own missteps, who’s actually running the show?”
As the search enters its third day, families of the missing soldiers await answers—while Washington grapples with a deepening crisis of confidence in its defense leadership.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.