Two American service members disappeared during a multinational exercise in North Africa, triggering a multinational search and rescue operation that remains active as officials work to locate them.
Two U.S. service members went missing over the weekend while taking part in a joint military exercise in North Africa, and search teams have been operating around the clock to find them. Military officials say the incident happened off duty during what was described as a recreational hike, and partner nations are cooperating with U.S. forces in the response. Authorities are treating the situation as an active search and rescue operation while keeping families and the public updated as information becomes available.
CBS reported that the service members had gone on a hike to watch the sunset when one of them fell from a cliff into the water below, and that several fellow soldiers immediately tried to form a human chain to pull the person to safety but were unable to reach them. According to that account, a second service member then entered the water in a rescue attempt and also did not make it back, while a third person attempted a rescue and returned to shore after being unable to complete the recovery. Those details have been circulated through multiple briefings as search teams try to confirm exactly what happened and to piece together a timeline of events.
Rescue efforts have involved a sequence of immediate, improvised attempts followed by organized responses, with the initial on-scene efforts hindered by the terrain and sea conditions near the cliffline. Witness accounts and preliminary reports indicate strong currents, steep drop-offs, and limited safe points for launching a recovery, all of which complicate both short- and long-range rescue options. Investigators and search planners are treating environmental hazards as a central factor in the operation and are adjusting tactics accordingly.
The incident occurred during African Lion 2026, a large-scale exercise that brought together more than 7,000 military personnel from over 30 nations for combined land, sea, and air training events intended to improve interoperability. Exercises of this size routinely include complex training scenarios and large footprints ashore and at sea, and partners typically rely on shared procedures for emergency response and medical evacuation. Organizers and participating nations have emphasized cooperation in the ongoing search while also reviewing safety protocols tied to off-duty activities in training areas.
Search and rescue assets reported active in the operation include maritime patrol units, helicopters, surface vessels, and ground search teams, supplemented by partner-nation resources that bring regional knowledge and additional capabilities. Planners have also listed use of unmanned systems and aerial reconnaissance to expand coverage of the search area where sea and coastline conditions make direct access difficult. Commanders have noted that every available appropriate asset is being used while teams coordinate shifts and sustainment to maintain round-the-clock coverage.
No names, ranks, or identifying details have been released pending notification of family members and standard military protocols, and officials have said updates will be provided as soon as new information is confirmed. Military spokespeople are balancing the need for timely public updates with respect for privacy and operational security, and they continue to request patience while investigative and recovery work proceeds. Local and allied authorities remain integral to those efforts and are contributing staff, expertise, and technical capability to support the search.
Incidents like this underscore the hazards that can exist during off-duty time in austere environments, especially where rugged terrain meets open water and where the margin for error is small. Service members and planners often review risk mitigation measures for recreational activities in training areas, and commanders typically remind personnel of the importance of situational awareness and buddy checks when leaving controlled bases. The armed forces involved say they remain focused on locating the missing members and supporting their families while learning any lessons that may improve safety in future operations.
