Search Underway for Two U.S. Soldiers Missing After Exercise in Morocco

Mon, 04 May 2026 00:12:00 +0200

Two U.S. Army soldiers have gone missing in southwestern Morocco following their participation in the African Lion military exercise, a large multinational training operation involving more than 30 countries. According to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the soldiers disappeared Saturday evening near the Cap Draa Training Area, close to the Atlantic coast. A U.S. defense official stated that the soldiers were not engaged in active training at the time but had gone on a recreational hike after the day’s exercises concluded.

When the soldiers failed to return as expected, U.S. and Moroccan forces immediately initiated a joint search and rescue operation. The effort includes helicopters, naval vessels, mountain rescue teams, and divers, reflecting the challenging terrain of the area, which consists of mountainous landscapes, desert, and semi-desert plains near ocean cliffs.

The African Lion exercise, which began in April and is scheduled to conclude in early May, spans multiple countries