American military officials and Moroccan forces are conducting an extensive search operation after two U.S. soldiers disappeared during a large-scale international training exercise in Morocco, authorities announced Sunday.
The service members vanished near Cap Draa, close to the southern Moroccan city of Tan Tan, while participating in the African Lion military exercises, according to statements from U.S. Africa Command and Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces.
Moroccan military officials indicated the personnel went missing in an area near a cliff.
Multiple search teams utilizing ground crews, aircraft, and naval vessels from the United States, Morocco, and allied nations have been deployed to locate the missing Americans. The operation remains active as investigators work to determine what happened.
African Lion represents the largest yearly multinational training exercise organized by U.S. Africa Command, designed to strengthen cooperation between American forces, NATO member countries, and African military partners.
The current exercise began April 27 and continues through May 8, spanning four African nations: Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.
Morocco hosts the primary portion of the training, which involves roughly 5,000 military personnel representing more than 40 countries, according to AFRICOM officials.
