Two members of the United States military are currently unaccounted for following a training exercise in Morocco, as reported by the US African Command (Africom). These service members were last spotted on Saturday near the ocean cliffs in the vicinity of the Cap Draa Training Area, situated near the city of Tan Tan. According to preliminary information provided by a US defense official, it is suspected that the soldiers may have fallen into the ocean during their participation in the African Lion 2026 exercise, an annual joint military training event.
A comprehensive search and rescue operation is actively being conducted, which encompasses ground, air, and maritime resources from the United States, Morocco, and several other participating nations. In a statement released on Sunday, Africom emphasized that "the incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing," reaffirming their commitment to prioritizing the welfare of the service members involved and their families.
Authorities have indicated that the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the soldiers appear to be accidental, dismissing any notions of terrorism or kidnapping, as mentioned by a US official. The two soldiers were reported missing after they did not return to their designated training area, prompting an immediate response from both US and Moroccan forces to initiate a search effort.
African Lion is recognized as the largest annual joint military exercise on the African continent, designed to enhance operational capabilities among US forces, NATO allies, and African nations. This multifaceted training event takes place across various countries, including Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. The focus of the exercise is on all-domain operations, crisis response, and enhancing multinational coordination to bolster regional security and preparedness for emergency situations. This year, the exercise involves approximately 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries and more than 30 US-based industry partners, scheduled to run from April 27 to May 8.
As reported by bbc.com.
