Two United States service members have been reported missing during a multinational military exercise in southern Morocco, prompting an ongoing search and rescue operation involving forces from several countries.
The personnel were participating in the African Lion 2026 exercise when they went missing on Saturday evening near a cliff at Cap Draa in the Tan Tan area, according to a statement by Morocco’s armed forces.
The large-scale exercise, which began in late April in the southern city of Agadir, has brought together nearly 5,000 troops from more than 40 countries and is scheduled to run until May 8.
Moroccan authorities said coordinated search and rescue efforts were immediately launched, involving ground teams, aircraft, and maritime units from participating nations.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) also confirmed the incident, noting that the circumstances surrounding the disappearance remain under investigation.
“The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing,” AFRICOM said in a statement.
Officials have not yet released further details about the missing service members or the conditions leading to their disappearance, as rescue operations continue in the rugged coastal area.
