A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway in southern Morocco after two United States service members were reported missing near the Atlantic coastline during an ongoing multinational military exercise, prompting a rapid redeployment of air, land, and maritime forces from both U.S. and Moroccan units.

The soldiers were last seen near ocean cliffs close to the Cap Draa Training Area, a remote military zone outside the coastal city of Tan Tan, where the Sahara Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean.

According to a U.S. defence official, early indications suggest the pair may have fallen into the sea while in the area, with initial assessments pointing to a possible hiking accident. “They were not actively taking part in any training. The day’s exercises had concluded, and, from our understanding, they were out on a recreational hike,” the official stated.

Both missing personnel are confirmed to be U.S. Army soldiers, although their identities have not yet been released. Defence officials said the soldiers were last accounted for during a routine presence check before they were reported missing over the weekend.

A coordinated search operation was launched shortly afterwards, involving ground units, helicopters, surveillance aircraft, and naval assets from the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, the U.S. military, and other participating nations in the African Lion exercise.

The multinational response has continued through the night, with aerial and maritime teams sweeping coastal waters and rugged cliffside terrain.

The incident has temporarily disrupted the African Lion exercise, which ground to a halt on Sunday as military resources were diverted to support the search effort. Officials on the scene confirmed that operational planning for training activities was suspended while emergency response operations took priority.

Moreover, journalists embedded with the U.S. military reported heightened activity at the Cap Draa training area, including a base-wide headcount conducted.

Helicopters were heard as search operations began, with multiple aircraft, including planes, helicopters, and drones later observed operating over the coastal region in coordinated rescue efforts.

African Lion: Africa’s Largest US-Led Military Drill

The African Lion exercise has grown into the largest annual joint military training operation on the African continent, bringing together a vast coalition of international forces under the leadership of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), one of the U.S. Department of Defence’s unified combatant commands.

African Lion, which has been running since 2004, is the largest US annual joint military exercise on the continent and usually features high-ranking military officials from the US and its top African allies.

Each year, the exercise serves as a platform for strengthening military cooperation between the United States, African partner nations, and NATO allies, with a strong focus on improving coordination across multiple theatres of modern warfare.

This year’s edition involves more than 7,000 personnel drawn from over 20 countries, reflecting its scale and strategic importance. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains, allowing participating forces to train in integrated operations that mirror the complexities of contemporary conflict environments.

A defining feature of this year’s drills is the increased emphasis on advanced military technologies. Training scenarios now incorporate drones, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence, underscoring how rapidly evolving technologies are reshaping defence strategies among participating nations.

The exercise is conducted across several African countries, including Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia, with operations scheduled to continue through early May. Morocco, in particular, provides one of the most demanding training environments, combining vast stretches of desert with rugged coastal terrain.

In southern Morocco, the Cap Draa Training Area presents especially challenging conditions. Located where the Sahara Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean, the region is characterised by cliffs, rocky outcrops, and isolated coastal zones. The combination of mountainous desert landscapes and sudden drops into the sea creates a difficult environment not only for training operations but also for emergency response efforts.

It is within this complex terrain that recent search operations have been taking place, highlighting how quickly routine training activity can shift into real-world crisis response when accidents occur.

While officials continue to stress that recent developments appear to be accidental in nature, the situation has drawn renewed attention to the risks associated with large-scale military exercises conducted in such demanding environments.

The African Lion exercise has faced similar scrutiny in the past. In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured during a helicopter crash in Morocco while participating in the same annual drills.