Body of second missing US soldier recovered in Morocco
The body of the second US soldier reported missing during a multinational military exercise in Morocco has been recovered, the United States Army confirmed on Wednesday, bringing search and rescue operations to an end.
The two soldiers went missing while participating in African Lion 2026, a major international military training exercise held annually across several African countries. The soldiers reportedly disappeared near a cliff along Morocco’s Atlantic coastline during operations linked to the drills.
The first soldier identified was 19-year-old specialist Mariyah Collington, whose body was discovered Tuesday inside a coastal cave. Authorities have not publicly released the identity of the second soldier.
According to the US Army, the remains of both service members were transferred to a Moroccan military hospital before being placed aboard a US Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft for transportation back to the United States.
In an official statement, the Army confirmed that both bodies are now en route to the US for repatriation.
“Search and rescue operations have concluded. With both Soldiers accounted for, the focus shifts to recovery and repatriation,” the statement said.
A large-scale search effort had been underway for nearly a week after the soldiers were reported missing last Saturday in the Cap Draa Training Area. The operation involved more than 1,000 military and civilian personnel from the United States, Morocco, and allied forces.
Search teams conducted coordinated land, sea, and air operations across approximately 21,300 square kilometers, or roughly 8,200 square miles, in an effort to locate the missing soldiers.
African Lion is one of the largest military exercises on the African continent and is led annually by the United States in partnership with Moroccan armed forces. The drills typically include troops from multiple allied nations and focus on joint readiness, crisis response, interoperability, and regional security cooperation.
The circumstances surrounding the soldiers’ disappearance remain under investigation.
Last week, a US military official speaking anonymously suggested the two soldiers may have accidentally fallen into the sea, pointing investigators toward a likely accident scenario. The official reportedly ruled out terrorism or hostile activity as a cause.
The incident has cast a somber tone over the African Lion exercises, which are designed to strengthen military coordination and partnerships between the United States, Morocco, and other participating nations.
Morocco has long been a strategic defense partner of the United States in North Africa and regularly hosts multinational military operations and exercises.
No further details have yet been provided regarding how the soldiers ended up near the cliff area or the exact sequence of events leading to their disappearance.
Military officials are expected to continue reviewing the incident to determine whether environmental conditions, operational risks, or other factors contributed to the tragedy.
The deaths have prompted condolences from military personnel and officials as repatriation arrangements continue for the fallen soldiers and their families.
