The African Lion exercise, a multinational training event, prompted a large-scale search after two soldiers went missing. Recently, remains from one soldier were recovered while another remains unaccounted for. This page breaks down what happened, what comes next, and how these drills balance safety with military readiness. Scroll for quick answers to common questions about the incident, the ongoing search, and the alliance implications.
During the May 2026 African Lion exercise, two U.S. soldiers went missing while participating in activities across multiple locations in Morocco. As search-and-rescue teams conducted a multinational, multi-asset hunt, the remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. were recovered on May 9. A second soldier, Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, remains missing and the search continues with international support including air, sea, and drone assets.
The search-and-rescue operation includes continued collaboration between U.S. and Moroccan forces, leveraging air and sea assets, drones, and ground teams. Officials have not publicly narrowed the timeline, but the focus remains on locating Spc. Collington while supporting the family of the recovered service member and maintaining mission readiness for ongoing exercises.
Multinational drills like African Lion are designed to build interoperability and readiness while prioritizing safety. Rigorous safety protocols, risk assessments, and continuous oversight guide activities. When incidents occur, investigations identify root causes, procedures tighten, and insurance and training practices adjust to reduce future risk—without undermining the overarching goals of alliance preparedness.
The incident underscores the close cooperation between the United States and Morocco in joint training and security commitments. While there are ongoing tributes to the fallen service member, the alliance remains focused on collective defense, capacity-building, and maintaining readiness for shared security interests across the region.
Officials have stated findings will be released as investigations progress. Updates typically cover search progress, any identified causes, and milestones in the investigative process. Families and the public should expect official briefings from military spokespeople as more details become available.
The search-and-rescue effort involves multinational assets, including U.S. and Moroccan forces, with air, sea, and drone support. The exact number of personnel and types of assets can vary by day, depending on weather, terrain, and mission needs, but the operation remains large-scale and coordinated.
The U.S. military says the remains of the second U.S. Army soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered. Spc.