The body of a fourth US soldier has been recovered in Lithuania, both US military and Lithuanian officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The soldiers went missing while on a training exercise last week when their armoured vehicle sank in a peat bog.

The bodies of the three other soldiers were were found on Monday after their armoured vehicle was recovered a military training area near the border with Belarus.

Condolences for the dead US soldiers

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also confirmed the fourth death and told reporters at a press briefing that the victims and their families were in the prayers of President Donald Trumpov and his administration.

"Deeply saddened to announce that the body of the fourth US soldier, who was training in Lithuania has been found," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda wrote on the social media platform X, offering condolences. 

Lithuania, on Monday, confirmed the deaths of the other three soldiers. 

The soldiers had been part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. Their commander expressed his sorrow at the news the last soldier had been found.

"This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface
Soldier," divisional commander Christopher Norrie said, using the nickname for those enlisted as infantrymen. 

"Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them," Norrie said in a statement. 

What we know about the incident?

The four soldiers had been taking part in a tactical training exercise at a large training area in the eastern Lithuanian town of Pabrade, situated 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) west of the border with Belarus.

They had been traveling in a M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle and were reported missing in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to the US Army.

The Lithuanian military and police launched a joint search operation with the US military which led to the location of the vehicle on Wednesday.

It was submerged in about 5 meters (16 feet) of water in a marshy area of the training area.

Hundreds of local and foreign troops along with other rescue personnel, including engineers and divers, were involved in the operation to recover the vehicle.

More than 1,000 American troops are stationed in Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, on a rotating basis.

Edited by: Sean Sinico