One U.S. Army soldier is missing after jumping into the Atlantic Ocean to rescue a fellow soldier who fell into the water off Morocco’s southern coast, defense officials confirmed Monday. Both soldiers disappeared during a hiking trip near the Cap Draa Training Area, prompting an ongoing search and rescue operation.
The incident occurred over the weekend while the soldiers were part of a group hiking to watch the sunset. According to a preliminary report, one soldier fell into the water, and others attempted a rescue by forming a human chain using their belts, but were unsuccessful.
When the first rescue effort failed, a second soldier, aware that the fallen soldier could not swim, jumped into the water to attempt a rescue. However, the rescuer was immediately struck by a wave and struggled to stay afloat. A third soldier then entered the water in an attempt to help, but could not save the two others and returned to shore safely.
Multiple search assets, including aircraft, drones, divers, and vessels, have been conducting extensive operations along Morocco’s southern coast for the past three days to locate the two missing soldiers. The Cap Draa Training Area is a known site for military exercises.
The soldiers were participating in the African Lion exercise, an annual joint military training operation led by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). This exercise involves thousands of troops from the U.S., African partner nations, and NATO allies training across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains. However, officials stated that the incident is not believed to be directly related to the training exercise itself.
More than 7,000 military personnel from over 30 countries are stationed in Morocco for the exercise, which is considered the largest joint military training event led by AFRICOM.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the risks military personnel face even outside active combat zones during multinational training events. The ongoing search underscores the challenges of conducting rescue operations in difficult coastal environments.
Background
African Lion is a key exercise designed to enhance operational readiness and interoperability among U.S. forces and allied nations. It provides crucial training across multiple warfare domains, supporting strategic partnerships in Africa and reinforcing collective defense capabilities.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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