RABAT, Morocco — Two U.S. service members are lacking in southwestern Morocco after participating in annual multinational navy workouts within the North African nation, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) stated Sunday.
The U.S., Morocco and different nations collaborating within the African Lion train have launched a search and rescue operation, AFRICOM stated.
“The incident stays beneath investigation and the search is ongoing,” it stated in an announcement.
The incident occurred on Could 2 close to the Cap Draa Coaching Space close to Tan Tan, near the Atlantic Ocean. The terrain is mountainous, a mixture of desert and semidesert plains.
The conflict video games train began in April and runs throughout 4 nations, together with Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal. It’s scheduled to finish in early Could.
The command didn’t state what unit or department of the navy the lacking service members belong to. The Related Press has requested clarification.
The train started in Tunisia with active-duty members of various branches of the U.S. navy, together with the Nationwide Guard, Military Reserve, Air Pressure, and the Marine Corps.
In all, over 7,000 personnel from greater than 30 nations are collaborating throughout the 4 host nations.
African Lion, which has been working since 2004, is the biggest U.S. annual joint navy train on the continent and normally options high-ranking navy officers from the U.S. and its high African allies.
U.S. navy officers have stated the annual multinational engagement serves as a venue for strengthening regional safety cooperation and refining the readiness of collaborating forces for international crises.
In 2012, two U.S. Marines had been killed and two others injured throughout a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern metropolis of Agadir whereas participating in African Lion.
Morocco is a significant ally of the US in a troubled area. Since 2020, navy officers disillusioned with their governments’ information of stemming violence have overthrown democratically elected governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and started distancing themselves from Western powers.
