The search is underway for two US service members who are feared to have fallen into the ocean during an annual multinational military exercise in Morocco, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said Sunday.
The pair vanished Saturday during the African Lion exercises at the Cap Draa Training Area near Tan Tan, close to the Atlantic Ocean, officials said.
The missing Army soldiers, who were not publicly named, were seen near the ocean cliffs before they disappeared, with initial reports indicating that they may have fallen into the waters, according to the Associated Press.
US and Moroccan military forces participating in the African Lion training exercise in Tantan, Morocco on May 31, 2024. AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy, FileThe soldiers were not taking part in the training at the time and had gone out on a “recreation hike,” one defense official told the AP.
“US, Moroccan and other assets from African Lion immediately initiated coordinated search and rescue operations, including ground, air, and maritime assets,” AFRICOM said in a statement.
“The incident remains under investigation and the search is on-going,” the agency added.
Officials identified the missing soldiers during a head-count on Saturday at around 9 p.m., according to reporters from CBS embedded with the military.
Helicopters were immediately deployed to look for the troops, with more aircraft sent out on Sunday morning to investigate the coastline, according to the outlet.
African Lion, a war games exercise, is America’s largest annual joint military exercise on the continent, often featuring high-ranking military officials from the US and its top African allies.
More than 7,000 military personnel from more than 30 nations were participating in the military exercise before it came to a halt on Saturday, with allied countries aiding in the search.
Previous tragedies have befallen US troops during the African Lion war games, which began in 2004.
In 2012, two Marines were killed after their helicopter went down during the exercises, with two others injured.
US military officials have maintained that the annual multinational engagement serves as a venue for strengthening regional security cooperation and refining the readiness of participating forces for global crises.
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