Two U.S. Service Members Missing During African Lion Exercise in Morocco
Two U.S. service members have gone missing near Tan Tan, Morocco, during the African Lion military exercise; search and rescue operations are underway.
Two U.S. service members participating in the African Lion military exercise have been reported missing near the Cap Draa Training Area, close to the city of Tan Tan in southwestern Morocco. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced the disappearance occurred on Saturday evening.
AFRICOM stated that U.S., Moroccan, and other partner forces have initiated coordinated search and rescue operations, utilizing ground, air, and maritime assets. The incident is currently under investigation, and the search efforts are ongoing.
The African Lion exercise is the largest annual joint military exercise conducted by the U.S. in Africa, involving over 7,000 personnel from more than 30 countries. This year's drills, which began in April and are scheduled to conclude in early May, are hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercises aim to enhance interoperability among participants and build readiness to respond to crises and contingencies in Africa and globally.