Search operations are underway in southern Morocco. And for good reason, two American soldiers taking part in the international exercise “African Lion 2026” disappeared on Saturday evening, the Moroccan army and the American Africa Command (Africom) announced on Sunday.
The 22nd edition of this joint military exercise, organized by the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) in partnership with the American armed forces, was officially launched Monday in Agadir, in the south of the kingdom, the FAR announced.
An open investigation
“Two American soldiers participating in African Lion 2026 were reported missing on May 2, 2026 around 9 p.m. (8 p.m. GMT), at a cliff in Cap Draa, in the Tan-Tan region,” they said on Facebook on Sunday.
“The Moroccan, American forces and other countries participating in the exercise (…) immediately launched coordinated search and rescue operations, including land, air and maritime assets,” they added in a press release.
For its part, Africom affirmed that an investigation had been opened to determine the circumstances of this disappearance.
Scheduled until May 8, the major exercise brings together nearly 5,000 military personnel from more than 40 countries, as well as experts specializing in the fields of security and defense.