In a troubling development, two American soldiers have gone missing during the 'African Lion 2026' military exercises in Morocco. The incident occurred on the night of Saturday, May 2, with the last confirmed sighting of the soldiers being in a training area near Cap Draa, close to the city of Tan-Tan in southern Morocco. In response to the situation, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, has announced that U.S. and Moroccan forces, along with other resources associated with the African Lion exercises, have initiated coordinated search and rescue operations. These efforts are comprehensive, utilizing ground, air, and maritime assets to locate the missing personnel. AFRICOM emphasized that the welfare of the service members and their families is their top priority during this challenging time.
According to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), the soldiers were reported missing at 9:00 PM local time while in a cliff area at Cap Draa. They also indicated that investigations have been launched to clarify the circumstances surrounding their disappearance. The current iteration of the African Lion military exercises began on April 20 and is set to continue until May 8, taking place across various locations, including Agadir, Tan-Tan, Benguerir, Taroudant, Tifnit, and Dakhla, with participation from over 40 countries. This makes it the largest annual military training exercise in Africa, led by the United States.
As reported by antena3.com.
