In a concerning development, two U.S. service members have gone missing in southwestern Morocco during their participation in the annual multinational military exercises known as African Lion. This information was confirmed by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Sunday. In response to the situation, a search and rescue operation has been initiated involving the U.S., Morocco, and other participating nations in the exercise.
According to reports from the Moroccan military, the incident occurred on Saturday around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area, located close to Tan Tan and adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. The area is characterized by challenging mountainous terrain, interspersed with desert and semi-desert plains. AFRICOM has stated that the circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation, and efforts to locate the missing personnel are ongoing.
The African Lion exercise began in April and spans across four countries, including Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal, with a conclusion expected in early May. However, details regarding the specific military unit or branch to which the missing service members belong have not been disclosed by the command. The Associated Press has sought further clarification on this matter.
This extensive military exercise features active-duty members from various branches of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force, and Marine Corps, with over 7,000 personnel from more than 30 nations participating. Since its inception in 2004, African Lion has evolved into the largest annual joint military exercise conducted by the U.S. on the African continent, attracting high-ranking military officials from both the United States and its key African allies.
U.S. military officials have highlighted that the annual multinational engagement plays a crucial role in enhancing regional security cooperation and improving the readiness of participating forces to address global crises. It is worth noting that this is not the first time African Lion has faced tragedy; in 2012, a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern city of Agadir resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Marines and injuries to two others while they were involved in the exercise.
Morocco is recognized as a significant ally of the United States in a region marked by instability. Since 2020, there has been a troubling trend of military officers in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger overthrowing democratically elected governments and distancing themselves from Western powers due to dissatisfaction with their governments’ ability to manage violence.
As reported by timesunion.com.
