Two American soldiers have been reported missing during a multinational military exercise in southern Morocco, according to U.S. military officials. The incident occurred on May 3, 2026, during Exercise African Lion, a joint training operation involving U.S. and Moroccan forces.
Search and rescue operations are currently underway, with both U.S. and Moroccan personnel involved. The soldiers were last seen near the town of Tan-Tan, a coastal area in southern Morocco. The cause of their disappearance is under investigation, but initial reports suggest an accident may have occurred.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the incident in a statement, saying, 'We are working closely with our Moroccan partners to locate the missing soldiers. Our thoughts are with their families during this difficult time.' The names of the soldiers have not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Exercise African Lion is an annual joint military exercise that began in 2004, aimed at enhancing interoperability between U.S. and African forces. This year's exercise involves approximately 3,000 personnel from multiple countries, including Morocco, Tunisia, and Senegal.
