Search teams recovered the body of a U.S. Army soldier on Sunday, May 10, 2026, in southern Morocco [4].
The recovery follows a search operation for two soldiers who disappeared during the African Lion 2026 joint training exercises. The incident underscores the physical risks associated with large-scale military maneuvers in rugged terrain.
The soldiers went missing on May 2, 2026 [1]. Two U.S. soldiers were reported missing during the drills [2], prompting a joint search effort involving the U.S. military and Moroccan armed forces.
According to the Moroccan Armed Forces, the body was located near a steep rocky slope in the Cap Drâa area of Tan-Tan province [5]. While some reports indicated the recovery occurred on Saturday, May 9 [3], other sources confirmed the discovery on Sunday [4]. One body has been recovered so far [3].
"The search efforts have resulted in the recovery of the soldier's body near a steep rocky slope in the Cap Drâa area," the Moroccan Armed Forces said on X [5].
Despite the recovery of one soldier, the operation remains active as the second individual has not been located. The U.S. Army announced the discovery of the body on Sunday [6].
"We are continuing to work with our Moroccan partners to locate the missing soldier," a U.S. Army spokesperson said [7].
“The soldiers went missing on May 2, 2026.”
The loss of personnel during the African Lion 2026 exercises highlights the logistical and environmental challenges of conducting joint military drills in Morocco's southern provinces. The continued search for the second soldier maintains a point of operational tension between the U.S. and Moroccan forces as they navigate the difficult geography of the Tan-Tan region.
