Two US Soldiers Missing During African Lion Exercise in Morocco

Two US soldiers taking part in the joint military exercise African Lion have been reported missing near the southern Moroccan town of Tan-Tan, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces said on Sunday.

US, Moroccan and partner forces have launched coordinated search and rescue operations using land, air and sea assets to locate the soldiers, who went missing near the Cap Draa training center.

The Moroccan army said the soldiers were lost near a reef. “Initial reports indicate that both soldiers may have fallen into the ocean,” a US Defense Department official said in an email to Reuters. “I can confirm that this incident is not related to terrorism.”

The African Lion exercise is taking place from 27 April to 8 May across four countries: Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.

(reuters, su)