Missing US Soldiers in Morocco: Ongoing Search Efforts
During an international military exercise in Morocco, two U.S. soldiers have been reported missing. According to announcements made by both the U.S. Army and Moroccan armed forces on Sunday, the military personnel went missing on Saturday evening in the southern region of the country. A search operation has since been initiated.
The Moroccan military confirmed via their Facebook page that the soldiers disappeared near a cliff at Cap Draa in the Tan-Tan area. The coordinated search involves Moroccan, U.S., and other troops participating in the exercise, utilizing ground units, aerial support, and naval resources to locate the missing servicemen.
The U.S. Army's Africa Command, based in Stuttgart, confirmed the disappearance of the soldiers. A U.S. representative told AFP, "I can confirm that this incident is not related to terrorism, but appears to be an accident." Initial reports suggest that the two soldiers may have fallen into the sea, with one soldier reportedly jumping in after the other to attempt a rescue. The incident is under investigation, and the search continues with multiple helicopters, drones, boats, divers, and rescue teams actively involved.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, officials believe the missing soldiers may have gone hiking after the exercise. However, this information has not been independently verified by AFP.
The "African Lion 2026" military exercise began at the end of April in the southern Moroccan city of Agadir and is set to continue until May 8, involving nearly 5,000 military personnel from over 40 countries.
As noted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Morocco has become Africa's largest arms importer, with primary suppliers including the United States, France, and Israel. Morocco normalized its relations with Israel in late 2020 through the so-called Abraham Accords, which were initiated during Donald Trump's presidency.
As reported by spiegel.de.
