Two U.S. Service Members Missing in Morocco During Exercises

Two U.S. service members went missing in southwestern Morocco on May 2 during the annual African Lion multinational military exercises, prompting a joint search and rescue operation involving the United States, Morocco and other participating nations, U.S. Africa Command announced Sunday.

The incident occurred near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan Tan, close to the Atlantic Ocean, according to AFRICOM. The command stated that the matter remains under investigation, with the search efforts ongoing. No further details on the circumstances of the disappearance have been released.

African Lion, the largest U.S.-led joint military exercise on the African continent, began in April and spans four countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal. The drills are set to conclude in early May. Launched in 2004, the exercise typically draws high-ranking military officials from the U.S. and its key African partners.

U.S. military officials have described African Lion as a critical platform for enhancing regional security cooperation and improving the operational readiness of forces to respond to global crises. Thousands of troops from more than a dozen nations participate each year in...