Arabic version: البحث جارٍ عن أفراد الخدمة الأمريكية المفقودين في المغرب
Two US service members have gone missing during military exercises in Morocco, according to BBC News. The individuals were participating in African Lion 2026, an annual joint exercise designed to strengthen operations between US forces, NATO allies, and African nations.
The missing Americans were reported missing on Saturday near the Cap Draa Training Area, which is near the city of Tan Tan. A comprehensive search and rescue mission is currently underway, involving ground, air, and maritime resources from the US, Morocco, and other participating countries.
Africom stated that the incident remains under investigation, emphasizing that their primary concern is the well-being of the missing service members and their families. Authorities believe the incident was an accident and was not an act of terrorism or kidnapping.
African Lion is recognized as Africa’s largest annual joint military exercise, taking place across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise, which is scheduled to run from April 27 to May 8, includes around 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries, along with more than 30 US-based industry partners, focusing on all-domain operations and crisis response.
