NATO Secretary General confirmed that the missing US soldiers "died during an incident" in Lithuania

Four American soldiers who went missing in Lithuania from a training ground near the town of Pabrade have died. This was confirmed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, UNN reports with reference to The Guardian.

As I was speaking, news broke of four American soldiers who died in an incident in Lithuania. It's still early news, so we don't know the details, but obviously it's really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones 

He sent a message to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that, of course, "our thoughts and prayers are with the families and the United States."

Context

The US Embassy reported that on Monday, March 24, four American soldiers went missing in Lithuania from a training ground near the town of Pabrade. The United States initiated a search with the support of the Armed Forces and law enforcement of Lithuania.

The Lithuanian Armed Forces also reported the disappearance of tracked vehicles during the exercises.

It was later reported that a tracked vehicle also disappeared at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabrade.

Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT stated that the four servicemen "may have been killed", but "this has not been officially confirmed", while other Lithuanian channels – TV3 and Lrytas – unofficially reported their deaths.

TV3 quoted Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda as saying that he was being kept informed of developments, but declined to elaborate as "circumstances are being clarified."

LRT also reported that Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Šakaliene is heading to the training base.

Earlier, a statement from the US Army's European and African Public Affairs Office in Wiesbaden, Germany, said the soldiers were conducting scheduled tactical exercises at the time.

"A possible incident site has been identified at this time and a search and rescue operation is underway," the Lithuanian military said in a statement.