• Two US soldiers are missing during a military exercise in Morocco.
• The soldiers may have fallen into the ocean near cliffs after going on a hike.
• A large-scale search operation involving multiple countries is currently underway.
• The incident is reported to be accidental, not related to terrorism.
• Over 7,000 personnel from 30 nations are participating in the African Lion exercise.

The United States military has reported that two of its soldiers are missing during the African Lion military exercises in southwestern Morocco. These soldiers went missing near the Cap Draa Training Area close to the city of Tan Tan on Saturday evening, according to statements from the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces. The search and rescue operations involve ground, air, and maritime assets from the U.S., Morocco, and allied nations, aimed at locating the soldiers as quickly as possible, according to aljazeera, bbc, latimes, and reuters.

Reports indicate that the two soldiers were last seen near seaside cliffs after having finished the day’s training exercises. They may have gone on a recreational hike around 9 p.m. on Saturday, and initial assessments suggest they may have fallen into the ocean, though this remains under investigation. The rugged terrain surrounding the Cap Draa Training Area complicates search efforts, which include helicopters, ships, drones, and divers, as confirmed by a U.S. defense official and the Moroccan military, according to channelnewsasia, scmp, and npr.

African Lion is the largest annual U.S. military exercise conducted in Africa, featuring over 10,000 participants from more than 20 nations, including NATO allies. This year’s exercise, which runs until early May, aims to enhance military interoperability and readiness among participating forces across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. Similar military exercises have faced fatal incidents in the past, notably in 2012 when a helicopter crash during African Lion resulted in the deaths and injuries of several U.S. Marines, as noted by africanews, and africanews.