Two United States service members are missing in Morocco after a massive war games exercise involving multiple nations.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) released a statement indicating that the two had gone missing somewhere near the Cap Draa Training Area — which lies just under 20 miles from the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Tan Tan. AFRICOM did not reveal which branch of service was involved.
“Two U.S. service members participating in African Lion 2026 were reported missing near the Cap Draa Training Area, near the city of Tan Tan, Morocco, May 2, 2026,” the command posted via X.
Two U.S. service members participating in African Lion 2026 were reported missing near the Cap Draa Training Area, near the city of Tan Tan, Morocco, May 2, 2026.https://t.co/7zxpKQRHfB
— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) May 3, 2026
“U.S., Moroccan and other assets from African Lion immediately initiated coordinated search and rescue operations, including ground, air, and maritime assets,” the linked statement continued. “The incident remains under investigation and the search is on-going. Our focus is on the service members involved and their families.”
“Additional information will be provided as it becomes available,” the command promised, but no other details were given as to what may have been then nature of the “incident.”
The war games exercise, referred to as African Lion, includes more than 7,000 troops from at least 30 nations, and was set to conclude in early May. The exercise was to play out across the four African nations of Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia.
The annual war games exercise — which was first launched in 2004 — includes American service members from the United States Marine Corps, Air Force, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard — and is touted as a chance to bring together senior leadership from several allied nations in cooperation and strategic development.
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