The US military says that the recovery of 4 soldiers missing in Lithuania “will be long and difficult”

Babradi, Lithuania – The President of Lithuania said on Friday that he hoped in a “miracle” during his visit to the rescue operation site for recovery Four soldiers in the American army From their submerged car. The army said that the four soldiers, who were appointed to the first brigade of the army, were lost early on Tuesday morning during a maintenance mission to restore another American army vehicle in the Babraid training area, near Lithuania’s borders with Belarus, during the Training Training, the army said.

The search and rescue teams were at the scene on Friday, using heavy military equipment and excavators to remove silt from the water body, as the car was found on Wednesday.

“I still hope for a miracle,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nazida told reporters in Babraid. “Although many skeptics may say there is nothing to be hoped for in these circumstances, I want to believe.”

In a statement issued on Friday, the US military said that the 70 -ton armored recovery vehicle was found, as missing soldiers in the United States “were found” nearly 15 feet under a body of water and clay in a severe area “connected to a near lake.

“The area surrounding the site is incredibly wet and does not support the weight of the equipment,” said the US Army and Africa Public Affairs Office in a statement on Friday. “The depletion of the area was slow and difficult due to the leakage of groundwater,” he said.

“This will be a long and difficult recovery process, but we are completely committed to bringing our soldiers home,” said Cortis Taylor, the commander -in -chief of the first armored division.

The main goal on Friday was to remove the mud from the submerged car and determine the potential attachment points for extraction.

“We are working and will continue to work so that we can provide clear and honest answers to those who need more knowledge – family members,” Viksenras said on Facebook on Friday.

Lithuania, a member of NATO and a member of the European Union, hosts more than 1,000 American soldiers centered on the basis of rotation.

“The large mortar pump, cranes, more than 30 tons of gravel, and topics from the American Army Engineers Corps are only some of the assets that have arrived at the site to help reach the M88.

The Polish armed forces also volunteered a unit of military engineers, which is heading towards the site. “

Taylor of the first armored division said: “We are very able to visit the Lithuanian President today and the exceptional support that we continue to receive from the Lithuanian army.” “This will be a long and difficult recovery process, but we are fully committed to bringing our soldiers home. I am still an incredibly admirer for discipline, commitment and companion in this unit while trying to restore their missing comrades.”