The body of one of two US soldiers missing during a major international military exercise in southern Morocco has been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, Moroccan authorities have confirmed.
The soldier disappeared alongside a fellow service member near a cliff in the Cap Draa Training Area, a remote coastal zone used for live-fire drills and amphibious operations. Both were participating in African Lion 2026, one of the largest annual military exercises on the African continent, jointly led by the United States and Morocco with participation from dozens of partner nations.
Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces said the body was found at sea and transported to a military hospital for identification and formal procedures ahead of repatriation to the United States. The name, rank and unit of the soldier have not been publicly released, in line with US military policy pending notification of next of kin.
A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that early indications point to an accident, with investigators examining the likelihood that the two soldiers fell from the cliff into the ocean. The official said there was no evidence of hostile activity and terrorism had been ruled out as a cause.
The disappearance triggered an intensive search-and-rescue operation spanning more than 8,000 square kilometres of coastline and open water. US Africa Command reported that the effort involved over 10 aircraft, Moroccan cave divers and an unmanned underwater vehicle, as well as ground teams combing rugged terrain along the shore.
Despite the recovery of one body, the search for the second missing soldier continues, with US and Moroccan forces maintaining joint operations on land, at sea and in the air. Commanders have described the mission as a top priority and pledged to sustain efforts as long as conditions allow.
African Lion 2026 brought together nearly 5,000 troops from more than 40 countries, focusing on interoperability, crisis response and regional security. While training has continued in other areas, officials from both nations have emphasized that the incident has cast a shadow over the exercise, underscoring the inherent risks of complex military operations even in non-combat settings.
