Two U.S. service members have gone missing in southwestern Morocco after participating in the annual multinational military exercise known as African Lion. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces reported the disappearance on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday, May 2, around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area close to the city of Tan Tan and the Atlantic Ocean. A U.S. defense official stated that the soldiers went missing while on a hike after the day's exercises had concluded. A joint search and rescue operation involving the U.S., Morocco, and other participating nations is currently underway, and the incident remains under investigation.
African Lion is the largest annual U.S. joint military exercise in Africa and has been running since 2004. The current exercise spans four countries, including Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal, and is scheduled to end in early May. U.S. military officials stated that the engagement serves as a venue for strengthening regional security cooperation and refining the readiness of participating forces for global crises.