Two U.S. service members were reported missing Sunday in Morocco, during major annual American military exercises in western Africa, Pentagon officials said. The Department of Defense confirmed the report and said steps were underway to locate the missing personnel.
The announcement came amid a large, routine training event that brings U.S. forces together with regional partners for interoperability and readiness drills. Officials described the exercise as a major, recurring operation focused on coordination and joint procedures in western Africa.
Pentagon spokespeople said search and recovery teams were activated quickly after the missing report was filed. U.S. military leadership emphasized coordination with Moroccan authorities to support the effort and share relevant information.
Details about the circumstances leading to the disappearance were limited in the initial statement. Investigators and command elements said they would withhold further specifics until they had a clearer picture and could inform families through proper channels.
The pace of operations during large exercises can complicate immediate clarity, and officials noted that ongoing training movements sometimes create temporary confusion about locations and status. Despite that, the Department of Defense said it was treating the situation with urgency and following established procedures.
Local Moroccan emergency services and military units were reported to be cooperating with U.S. teams on the ground. Joint efforts typically include search crews, aviation assets when available, and liaison officers to streamline information flow between partners.
The families of the missing service members are being notified and offered support, according to the Pentagon statement. Military protocols call for timely family liaison and care, and command representatives were assigned to maintain contact and provide updates.
The exercises involved a broad range of activities, from field maneuvers and live training to logistical and command post operations. Officials said those varied activities require careful safety oversight and constant communication between participating forces.
Military officials emphasized that safety remains a top priority during multinational drills and that lessons from incidents are used to refine procedures. Commanders said they would review what happened as part of both the incident response and the routine after-action process.
The Pentagon said it would release more information as it becomes available and once next of kin notifications were complete. For now, the focus remains on the active search and on ensuring that all appropriate measures are in place to recover the missing personnel.
Past exercises in the region have routinely tested logistics, medical response, and interagency coordination, all of which are relevant to the current response. Authorities involved in the effort described a methodical and deliberate approach to locating the missing service members while preserving the integrity of the ongoing operations.
