Rabat: Two US service members have gone missing during the African Lion joint military exercise near Tan Tan in southern Morocco, prompting a large-scale search operation, officials confirmed on Sunday. The incident occurred on May 2 near the Cap Draa training area, close to the Atlantic coast.
According to the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, the personnel were last seen near a cliff, with initial reports suggesting they may have fallen into the ocean. No foul play is suspected. Coordinated search-and-rescue efforts involving ground teams, aircraft, drones, and maritime assets have been launched by US, Moroccan, and partner forces. The exercise was temporarily halted as resources were redirected to the search.
African Lion, the largest annual US-led military drill in Africa, runs from April 27 to May 8 across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. The Morocco leg involves about 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries, focusing on interoperability across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains, including advanced technologies like drones and AI.
The incident remains under investigation. Authorities have not released the identities or units of the missing personnel.
