2 US service members missing in Morocco during multinational military exercise
Two U.S. service members have gone missing after taking part in a multinational training exercise in Morocco, as reported by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Sunday. The service members were involved in the annual African Lion exercise in Morocco when they were reported missing near the Cap Draa Training Area, close to the city of Tan-Tan on Saturday.
According to a U.S. official speaking to ABC News, both soldiers are from the Army and were on a hiking expedition when they are believed to have accidentally fallen from a cliff into the ocean. There is currently no suspicion of foul play involved in their disappearance.
In response to the incident, U.S., Moroccan, and other assets from the African Lion exercise have launched coordinated search and rescue operations, utilizing ground, air, and maritime resources. The AFRICOM statement mentioned that the situation is being investigated and the search for the missing service members is ongoing.
The search efforts have been bolstered by the involvement of U.S. and Moroccan helicopters, drones, naval vessels, as well as Moroccan mountaineers and divers. These combined efforts aim to locate and rescue the missing service members as quickly as possible.
African Lion is a significant annual exercise that brings together around 5,000 troops and personnel from approximately 40 countries, including the United States, Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia, according to AFRICOM. This exercise focuses on enhancing cooperation and interoperability among participating nations to strengthen regional security and stability.
As the search continues for the missing service members, the collaborative efforts of multiple countries and assets highlight the importance of international cooperation in times of crisis.
