MOROCCO – A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway in Morocco after two United States service members went missing during a joint military exercise at the Cap Draa Training Area.
According to US and Moroccan military officials, the troops disappeared late Saturday, prompting an immediate response involving land, air, and sea units. As of Sunday evening, shortly before 2000 GMT, the search was still ongoing.
A US defense official told AFP that early indications suggest the incident was accidental.
“I can confirm this incident is not related to terrorism but appears to be an accident. Initial reports indicate the two soldiers may have fallen into the ocean,” the official said.
Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that the missing personnel may have gone on a hike after completing their training. However, this information has not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, CBS News reported heightened activity at the base, with helicopters heard throughout the night into Sunday. The outlet noted that the search intensified after a base-wide headcount revealed the two soldiers were unaccounted for.
Morocco’s armed forces confirmed their involvement in the operation through a statement on social media, underscoring the joint nature of the response effort.
The US official added that multiple assets have been deployed, including helicopters, naval vessels, drones, mountaineers, and divers, reflecting the scale and urgency of the search.
The missing troops were participating in African Lion exercise, a major multinational military exercise involving more than 10,000 personnel from over 20 countries. The exercise, led by the United States Africa Command, is hosted across several nations including Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia.
The incident has also revived memories of a past tragedy in the same region. In 2012, four US Marines were involved in an aircraft crash during the African Lion exercise, resulting in two fatalities and two injuries.
Authorities say search efforts will continue until the missing service members are located.
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