Two U.S. service members have been reported missing during military exercises in Morocco, according to the U.S. African Command (Africom).
The soldiers were last seen on Saturday near ocean cliffs close to the Cap Draa Training Area, located near the city of Tan Tan. A U.S. defense official told the BBC that initial reports suggest the missing personnel may have fallen into the ocean.
A multinational search and rescue operation involving ground, air, and maritime resources from the United States, Morocco, and other countries is currently underway. "The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing," Africom said in a statement Sunday. "Our focus is on the service members involved and their families."
U.S. officials believe the incident was accidental and not related to terrorism or kidnapping. The soldiers were reported missing after failing to return to the training area, prompting a joint search by U.S. and Moroccan forces.
The missing troops were participating in African Lion 2026, an annual joint exercise designed to strengthen cooperation between U.S. forces, NATO allies, and African nations. The exercise is the largest of its kind on the continent, involving 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries and more than 30 U.S.-based industry partners. It runs from April 27 to May 8 and focuses on all-domain operations, crisis response, and multinational coordination.