Two U.S. service members missing in Morocco following annual military exercises

World May 3, 2026 11:49 AM EDT CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Two U.S. service members are missing in southwestern Morocco after taking part in annual multinational military exercises in the North African country, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said Sunday. The service members are U.S. Army soldiers who went missing while on a hike, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly about the issue. READ MORE: Why Gen Z protests are shaking Morocco and how the government has responded "They were not actively taking part in any training. The day's exercises had concluded, and, from our understanding, they were out on a recreational hike," the official said. AFRICOM said the U.S., Morocco and other countries participating in the African Lion exercise have launched a search and rescue operation. "The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing," it said in a statement. The incident happened on Saturday at about 9 p.m., the Moroccan military said, near the Cap Draa Training Area near Tan Tan, close to the Atlantic Ocean. The terrain is mountainous, a mix of desert and semidesert plains. The search team includes helicopters,