Cape Town, South Africa — Two U. S. Service members have been reported missing during the African Lion 2026 military exercises in Morocco, according to the U.
S. African Command (Africom).
The joint exercise, which aims to bolster operations between U. S. Forces, NATO allies, and African nations, has been underway across multiple African countries, including Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia.
The missing service members were last seen near the Cap Draa Training Area, a location situated near the city of Tan Tan in Morocco. Initial reports suggest that the soldiers may have fallen into the ocean, a theory that is being investigated further.
A comprehensive search and rescue operation is currently in progress, involving resources from the U. S. Morocco, and other participating countries.
Africom has emphasized that the incident is under investigation, and the search is ongoing. “Our focus is on the service members involved and their families, “the command stated in a press release.
The African Lion exercise, which involves 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries and more than 30 U. S. -based industry partners, is scheduled to run from April 27 to May 8.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of military personnel during such exercises, particularly in environments that may pose unique risks. It also underscores the importance of multinational coordination and preparedness in times of emergency.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: BBC Africa
