In a concerning development, two U.S. service members have gone missing in southwestern Morocco while participating in the multinational military exercises known as African Lion, as confirmed by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Sunday. These soldiers, identified as members of the U.S. Army, were reported missing during a recreational hike after the day’s training activities had concluded. According to a U.S. defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, the soldiers were not engaged in any formal training during their hike.
AFRICOM has initiated a comprehensive search and rescue operation involving the U.S., Morocco, and other participating nations. The command stated, "The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing," emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. The Moroccan military reported that the incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Saturday near the Cap Draa Training Area in Tan Tan, an area characterized by its rugged mountainous terrain and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
The search operation is extensive, utilizing helicopters, ships, mountain rescue teams, and divers to locate the missing personnel. The defense official noted that the last known sighting of the soldiers was near ocean cliffs in the vicinity of the training area, prompting immediate action from U.S. and Moroccan forces to initiate a joint search effort when they failed to return as anticipated.
The African Lion military exercise, which commenced in April and encompasses participation from four host countries including Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal, is set to conclude in early May. This expansive training initiative has involved over 7,000 military personnel from more than 30 nations, making it the largest annual joint military exercise conducted by the U.S. on the African continent since its inception in 2004. The exercise serves to bolster regional security collaboration and enhance the preparedness of the involved forces to respond to global crises.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time the African Lion exercise has been marred by tragedy. In 2012, during a similar operation, two U.S. Marines lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Agadir, Morocco. As a key ally of the United States in a region fraught with instability, Morocco has faced challenges from military coups in neighboring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where disillusioned military officers have overthrown democratically elected governments and begun to distance themselves from Western influence.
As reported by kold.com.
