Search Operations Underway Following Disappearance of U.S. Soldiers in Morocco
On Sunday, the U.S. Africa Command, known as Africom, confirmed the loss of two American soldiers participating in the military exercises dubbed "African Lion" taking place in Morocco. The announcement comes amidst ongoing search and rescue operations that began on Saturday, May 2nd, following reports of the soldiers missing near the training area of Cape Draa, located close to the city of Tan-Tan in southern Morocco.
Africom's statement highlighted that search efforts are being conducted in coordination with Moroccan forces and other participating nations. Both ground and aerial resources, as well as maritime assets, are being utilized in the search operation. The command emphasized that the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and their primary focus remains on the well-being of the missing soldiers and their families.
The Moroccan military disclosed that the incident occurred around 9 PM local time on Saturday, in the vicinity of a cliff in the Ras Draa area of the Tan-Tan province. In response to the situation, joint search and rescue operations were immediately initiated, employing a range of military capabilities from both the U.S. and Moroccan armed forces, as well as other nations involved in the exercises.
The current iteration of the "African Lion" exercises involves over 5,000 personnel from approximately 40 countries, showcasing a significant multinational military collaboration. This year's drills commenced on May 1st and are set to continue until May 8th, with participation from 41 nations, including the United States. The "African Lion" exercise is recognized as one of the largest military training operations on the African continent and has been organized jointly by Morocco and the United States since its inception in 2007, with periodic involvement from European and African nations, sometimes even hosting multiple iterations within a single year.
As reported by trtarabi.com.
