Two American soldiers have gone missing in the area of Tan Tan, which is located along the coast of southern Morocco, where the African Lion military exercise is currently underway, according to reports made on Sunday. The disappearance led to an immediate search and rescue mission conducted by different countries.
Coordinated Search Launched Near Cap Draa Training Area
Furthermore, it is possible that the pair fell into the ocean, according to initial reports, although details of how the situation played out remain to be verified.
Consequently, the Moroccan and US military swiftly widened their search-and-rescue operations.
No Terror Link, Says US Defence Official
Meanwhile, a US defence official told Reuters that the incident is not linked to terrorism. This clarification came shortly after concerns emerged about the disappearance during a large-scale international exercise.
Furthermore, authorities have not released the identities of the missing personnel, citing ongoing recovery and notification procedures. The focus, for now, remains on locating the service members as quickly as possible.
African Lion Exercise Continues Across Multiple Nations
The exercise took place while conducting African Lion, the biggest annual exercise conducted by the US on the continent. The purpose of such exercises is to enhance cooperation between US and its NATO allies as well as its partner countries in Africa.
The current African Lion is scheduled from April 27 until May 8, covering Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. Particularly, the Moroccan region hosts the biggest number of participants for the drill, which is estimated at about 5,000 soldiers representing 40 different countries.
Although the search continues, the training is not expected to be cancelled but will be modified.
