Two U.S. Soldiers Disappear During Military Exercises in Morocco
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has announced on May 3 that two of its soldiers have gone missing during "African Lion," a joint military exercise conducted in partnership with several African nations.
African Lion is a high-level military exercise organized by the United States in collaboration with African partner nations.
The drills involve thousands of personnel from the U.S., NATO allies, and various African countries.
Military leadership from both the U.S. and Morocco stated they have launched a joint search and rescue operation to locate the missing personnel.
The search is centered around the Cap Draa Military Training Area near the city of Tan Tan in southern Morocco.
Moroccan military officials reported that the soldiers went missing near a cliff-side within the training area and confirmed that an investigation into the circumstances is underway.
The primary goals of the exercise include-enhancing professionalism by improving tactical skills and military standards, interoperability, and crisis readiness to the security threats or emergencies within Africa and beyond.
While the exercise spans multiple nations-including Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia-the operations in Morocco are particularly significant.
AFRICOM notes that the Moroccan phase involves over 5,000 soldiers from 40 different countries.
This year’s exercises officially commenced on April 27 and are scheduled to conclude on May 8, 2026.
