US Service Members Reported Missing in Morocco
Two US service members have been reported missing amid military exercises in Morocco, according to the US African Command (Africom).
The individuals were participating in African Lion 2026, an annual joint exercise aimed at enhancing operational cooperation between US forces, NATO allies, and African nations, officials stated.
Africom indicated that the service members were reported missing on Saturday near the Cap Draa Training Area, located close to the city of Tan Tan in Morocco.
A search and rescue operation involving ground, air, and maritime assets from the US, Morocco, and other countries is currently underway to locate the missing personnel, officials confirmed.
"The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing," Africom said in a statement released on Sunday. "Our focus is on the service members involved and their families."
Details on African Lion 2026 Exercise
African Lion is the largest annual joint military exercise on the African continent and is hosted across multiple countries including Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia.
The exercise emphasizes all-domain operations, crisis response, and multinational coordination to strengthen regional security and improve preparedness for emergencies.
Scheduled from April 27 to May 8, the exercise involves approximately 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries, as well as more than 30 US-based industry partners.
