Two US Soldiers Feared Lost at Sea During Training Exercise in Morocco

Two US soldiers are feared to have fallen into the ocean after going missing during a training exercise in southern Morocco. Search and rescue operations involving US and Moroccan forces are ongoing. Officials say the incident appears accidental and not linked to terrorism.

Two US soldiers are feared to have fallen into the ocean after going missing during a training deployment in southern Morocco, according to a US defence official speaking to AFP. The incident occurred late Saturday in the Cap Draa Training Area, a coastal and mountainous region used for military exercises, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation that continued into Sunday evening.
The search effort has involved a coordinated response from US and Moroccan forces, along with allied support. Helicopters, naval vessels, drones, mountaineering teams, and divers have been deployed to comb both land and sea areas around the rugged coastline, where steep cliffs drop into the Atlantic Ocean. Officials described the terrain as challenging, with difficult visibility and strong coastal currents complicating recovery efforts.
A US defence official stated that early indications suggest the incident was accidental and not connected to terrorism or hostile activity. Initial assessments point to the possibility that the soldiers may have fallen into the ocean, although this has not yet been confirmed. The official added that investigations are ongoing and that authorities are working to reconstruct the soldiers’ last known movements.
Reports from US media indicate that the two soldiers may have gone hiking after completing scheduled training activities, though this detail has not been independently verified by AFP. CBS News reported that helicopters were heard operating throughout the night following a routine base headcount that revealed the two personnel were missing, prompting immediate emergency protocols.
Morocco’s armed forces confirmed their participation in the search operation, underscoring ongoing military cooperation between Morocco and the United States. The country has been a key partner in joint military exercises and regional security initiatives, and its forces are playing a central role in supporting search efforts along the coastline and surrounding terrain.
The missing soldiers were taking part in “African Lion,” the US military’s largest annual joint exercise in Africa. The exercise brings together more than 10,000 troops from over 20 countries, including NATO allies and partner nations. It is conducted across multiple host countries, including Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia, and is designed to improve coordination, interoperability, and readiness among participating forces.
While the current incident is still under investigation, it has drawn comparisons to a previous tragedy linked to the same exercise. In 2012, a US military aircraft crashed during African Lion operations in the same general region, resulting in the deaths of two Marines and injuries to two others. That history has added to the seriousness with which authorities are treating the current disappearance, as search operations continue in hopes of locating the missing soldiers.