Two U.S. Soldiers Missing After Military Exercise in Morocco
In a developing situation in Morocco, two American soldiers have been reported missing near Tan-Tan, a city located in the southern part of the country. The soldiers were participating in the joint military training exercise known as African Lion 2026 when they lost contact with their units on the evening of May 2nd. As of now, Washington is concerned that the soldiers may have fallen into the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and U.S. Africa Command (Africom), investigations into the circumstances surrounding this incident are ongoing. A race against time has commenced to locate the two missing military personnel, as extensive search operations have been launched. These operations involve both terrestrial and aerial assets from the United States, Morocco, and several partner nations. Tan-Tan is situated approximately 25 kilometers from the Atlantic coast, which adds urgency to the search.
Military officials from the United States have indicated that they suspect the incident was an accident. An anonymous military representative confirmed to the Associated Press that there is no indication of terrorism being involved, stating, "I can confirm that this incident is not related to terrorism but seems to be an accident." Initial reports suggest that the soldiers may have fallen near a cliff close to the training site at Cap Draa.
The African Lion military exercises represent the largest annual training event conducted by the U.S. Africa Command in collaboration with NATO allies and African partners. These exercises are designed to enhance interoperability among the various armed forces involved. This year marks the 22nd edition of the African Lion exercise, which is taking place from April 27 to May 8 across four countries: Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, and involves around 5,000 military personnel from over 40 nations.
As reported by rfi.fr.
