The body of one of two United States soldiers who went missing during the African Lion 2026 military exercise in southern Morocco has been recovered, Moroccan authorities confirmed on Sunday. The soldiers disappeared last Saturday near a cliff along Morocco’s Atlantic coast while participating in training activities at the Cap Draa Training Area. Moroccan and US forces immediately launched a large-scale search operation involving air, sea, and ground teams. In a statement, the Moroccan army said the body of one serviceman was recovered from the sea on Saturday and transferred to a military hospital pending repatriation to the United States. The search for the second missing soldier is still ongoing.
A US military official, speaking anonymously to AFP, said preliminary indications suggest the soldiers may have accidentally fallen into the sea, adding that there was no evidence pointing to terrorism or hostile activity. US Africa Command said the search operation has covered more than 8,000 square kilometres of coastline and ocean. The mission includes more than 10 aircraft, Moroccan cave divers, naval teams, and an unmanned underwater vehicle. African Lion 2026 is one of the largest multinational military exercises on the continent, bringing together nearly 5,000 troops from over 40 countries, alongside security and defense experts for joint training and regional cooperation drills.
