After weeks of synchronized operations across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains, African Lion 26 concluded with a series of

TWO American troops have vanished while taking part in a military exercises in Morocco, sparking desperate rescue efforts. The soldiers were reported missing near ocean cliffs in the Cap Draa

A search and rescue operation is under way for two U.S. service members who went missing near a training area in Morocco, U.S. Africa Command said.

TAN-TAN, Morocco — U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), conducted autonomous tactical vehicle training during African Lion 26 at Cap Draa, Tan-Tan, Morocco, April 30, 2026.

African lion Shera rests on a bed of hay in her indoor enclosure Jan. 26 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Great Cats Exhibit. Image: Leigh Pitsko, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

The Moroccan army said the service members went missing near a cliff. The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing.

Two U.S. service members participating in the war games exercise African Lion have been reported missing in Morocco.

More than 4,500 military personnel from over 30 nations have begun exercise African Lion 2026, the largest annual joint military exercise on the African continent.

A coalition of U.S. military and research organizations deliver integrated biosurveillance support, strengthening commanders’