U.S. Service Members Reported Missing During African Lion Exercises
On May 3, 2023, it was reported that two U.S. service members participating in the African Lion joint military exercises have gone missing near Tan Tan, located in southern Morocco. The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) along with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces have confirmed the situation and are actively engaged in search and rescue operations. These efforts involve a coordinated response utilizing ground, air, and maritime resources to locate the missing personnel, who were last known to be near the training site at Cap Draa.
The Moroccan military has indicated that the service members disappeared close to a cliff, heightening concerns regarding their safety. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and both the U.S. and Moroccan forces continue to search for the individuals to ensure their safe return.
African Lion: A Major Military Exercise
The African Lion exercises represent the largest annual joint military operation conducted by the U.S. Africa Command, aimed at enhancing interoperability among U.S. forces, NATO allies, and partner nations across Africa. This year's exercise spans from April 27 to May 8 and takes place across four countries: Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. Notably, the majority of the activities occur in Morocco, where approximately 5,000 personnel from over 40 nations are participating, according to AFRICOM.
As reported by internazionale.it.
