Two US service members missing in Morocco military exercise

Key Points:

• Two U.S. Army soldiers went missing in southwestern Morocco after a recreational hike following the conclusion of the African Lion multinational military exercises, according to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
• The incident occurred near the Cap Draa Training Area close to Tan Tan, a mountainous region by the Atlantic Ocean, prompting a joint U.S.-Moroccan search and rescue operation involving helicopters, ships, mountain rescue units, and divers.
• African Lion is an annual large-scale military exercise involving over 7,000 personnel from more than 30 countries across Tunisia, Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco, aimed at enhancing regional security cooperation and military readiness.
• The exercises have been held since 2004 and are considered the largest U.S. joint military exercise on the African continent, with participation from various branches of the U.S. military and allied African nations.
• Morocco remains a key U.S. ally in a region facing political instability, as recent years have seen military coups and distancing from Western powers in neighboring countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.