The U.S. military has launched a major search and rescue operation after two American service members went missing while participating in the multinational African Lion 2026 exercise in southwestern Morocco.

According to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the pair were reported missing on Saturday, May 2, near the Cap Draa Training Area, close to the city of Tan Tan.

The area features a challenging mix of mountainous terrain, desert, and semi-desert plains near the Atlantic coast. 

“The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing,” AFRICOM said in a statement on Sunday. “Our focus is on the service members involved and their families.

U.S., Moroccan, and partner forces have deployed a coordinated response involving ground, air, and maritime assets. Moroccan authorities noted the service members went missing near a cliff area on Saturday evening. 

African Lion is the largest annual joint military exercise conducted by the United States on the African continent.

The 2026 edition is hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia, with the goal of improving interoperability and crisis response capabilities among participating nations.

No further details about the identities of the missing service members or the exact circumstances of their disappearance have been released.

The Pentagon and AFRICOM have not commented on whether the incident occurred during a specific training activity.

Search efforts were continuing as of Sunday afternoon local time. (ILKHA)