U.S. Army Reports Two Soldiers Missing During Exercises in Morocco
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced on May 3, 2026, that two American soldiers have gone missing during the African Lion 2026 exercises taking place in Morocco. The incident occurred near the training area of Cap Draa, close to the city of Tantan, on Saturday. In a statement released on their official website, AFRICOM confirmed that both American and Moroccan forces, along with other participants in the exercises, immediately initiated coordinated search and rescue operations utilizing ground, air, and maritime resources.
The situation surrounding the missing soldiers is currently under investigation, and the search efforts are ongoing. The African Lion exercises, which commenced on April 27, 2026, are the largest annual joint military exercises led by the U.S. in Africa. They are being conducted across four nations: Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, according to a statement by AFRICOM.
Approximately 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries, in addition to more than 30 American defense contractors, are participating in activities designed to test future warfare capabilities across various locations from April 27 to May 8, 2026. This exercise is executed by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force – Africa and aims to enhance collective security capabilities among the United States, African nations, and their international allies. Furthermore, it tests the ability of forces to conduct rapid deployments and operate in multi-domain threat environments, as stated by AFRICOM.
As reported by asharq.com.
