Two US service members vanish during Morocco military drills
Two US service members have disappeared during military exercises in Morocco. The incident happened on 3 May 2023 near the Cap Draa training area, close to the southwestern city of Tan-Tan. Authorities have stated that terrorism is not suspected and the case appears accidental.
This follows a separate incident last year in Lithuania, where three US soldiers went missing during training. One of those soldiers remains unaccounted for.
The latest disappearance took place during the African Lion exercises, an annual US-led training event involving multiple nations. Search efforts are now focused on the rugged terrain near Cap Draa, where the two personnel were last seen.
In Lithuania, a similar incident occurred when an M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle became submerged in a swamp. Recovery teams spent a week draining the area by constructing an earthen dam before retrieving the vehicle. Despite the effort, one of the three missing soldiers from that event has never been found. Investigations into both cases remain ongoing, with US and host-nation forces coordinating search operations. The African Lion exercises continue, though safety protocols are under review following the latest disappearance.
The two missing service members in Morocco mark the second such incident involving US personnel in less than a year. Recovery operations in both Morocco and Lithuania have faced significant challenges due to difficult terrain. Military officials continue to investigate the causes while supporting search efforts on the ground.
