The body of one of two missing U.S. soldiers has been found in Morocco during the ongoing African Lion military exercise. Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces announced the discovery following an intensive joint search operation conducted alongside U.S. Army units in the south of the country.
According to the Moroccan army, search teams located the body in a rocky area near Cap Draa. From there, a helicopter transported the remains to the morgue of the military hospital in the city of Guelmim. The army stated that all established procedures were followed during the recovery and transfer.
The search for the second missing American soldier continues. Morocco’s armed forces confirmed that rescue operations remain active and ongoing as of May 11, 2026.
How the two soldiers went missing
The two U.S. servicemembers were last seen near a coastal cliff adjacent to the Cap Draa training ground. That location sits along the Atlantic coast in southern Morocco. Early reports suggested the soldiers may have fallen from the cliff into the ocean below. A Pentagon source told CBS News that drowning is considered a possible cause, though no official determination has been made.
Neither the Moroccan nor the American military has linked the disappearance to any form of targeted terrorist activity. Officials on both sides have been clear on that point throughout the search.
A large-scale multinational search effort
The operation to find the two soldiers involved a broad range of military assets. Naval vessels patrolled the coastline while riflemen from Morocco’s elite Atlas special forces unit worked the ground-level search. Military engineering units, helicopters and combat drones also took part in the effort. The scale of the response reflected the urgency both countries placed on locating the missing men as quickly as possible.
The African Lion exercise is one of the largest annual military drills on the African continent. It typically brings together thousands of troops from the United States, Morocco and other allied nations for training across multiple domains including land, sea and air operations. The exercise takes place across several Moroccan regions each year and serves as a key component of U.S. military engagement in Africa.
Search continues as investigation moves forward
With one soldier now recovered, the full focus of the joint operation has shifted to finding the second missing servicemember. The rocky and coastal terrain near Cap Draa presents significant challenges for search teams working on the ground and in the water simultaneously.
Authorities have not yet released the names of either soldier publicly. Details about the specific circumstances that led to their disappearance also remain under investigation. Both the U.S. and Moroccan militaries are expected to provide further updates as the search progresses and more information becomes available.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks that accompany large-scale international military exercises, even in the absence of any hostile threat. For the families of both soldiers, the search effort carries the most urgent weight of all.
Source: Fakti.bg
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