Amid Russia war, 4 US soldiers killed in military exercise of NATO in Norway | Marines

In a tragedy striking the US military amid growing tension with Russia, 4 American soldiers died during a military exercise.

Four US Marines, who were participating in a NATO exercise, died when their MV-22B Osprey crashed. The incident occurred in Norway on March 18, and was confirmed by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere a day later.

The soldiers were part of the Cold Response military exercise which aims to teach troops survival skills in extreme weather conditions in the Arctic. The Osprey tilt-rotor plane reportedly crashed south of Bodo in northern Norway's Nordland.

NATO, which is an anti-Russia military alliance, reportedly claimed that the exercise was not linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. NATO forces have been on high alert ever since Russia's military invasion of Ukraine began.

Ukraine's demand to be a part of NATO, which is led by Western powers like US and UK, is believed to have been one of the reasons which led Moscow to declare war.

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Around 30,000 troops from over 27 countries are reportedly part of the Cold Response drill.