RABAT, Morocco — Moroccan and U.S. military officials confirmed Wednesday that the remains of a second U.S. soldier have been recovered following an extensive multinational search after both service members went missing during the African Lion 2026 exercise near the Cap Draa training area in southern Morocco, May 14, 2026.
The recovery marks the end of a week-long search-and-rescue operation involving more than 1,000 personnel from the United States, Morocco, and allied nations, after the two soldiers reportedly fell from cliffs into the Atlantic Ocean during an off-duty hike near Tan-Tan, prompting a large-scale air, sea, and land effort to locate them.
Morocco Soldiers Recovery concludes multinational search operation
Officials said the final recovery closes one of the most intensive joint recovery missions conducted during recent African Lion exercises, a U.S.-led annual military training event involving thousands of troops across multiple African nations. According to military statements, the second soldier was identified as Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, whose remains were transported to a Moroccan military hospital before repatriation procedures began.
Her recovery follows the earlier identification and retrieval of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, whose body was found days earlier along the coastal search area. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, which U.S. officials have described as a non-combat accident that occurred during recreational time off-duty.
The operation involved coordinated use of drones, maritime patrol assets, and specialized search teams scanning more than 21,000 square kilometers of rugged coastline and sea terrain. Officials emphasized that while the search has concluded, the investigation into the fall remains ongoing.
Investigation continues after fatal cliff fall near Cap Draa
Military sources indicated the two soldiers were part of a larger contingent participating in African Lion 2026, one of the largest joint exercises in Africa, which includes forces from the United States and multiple partner nations. The incident occurred near steep coastal cliffs, a remote area known for challenging terrain and strong Atlantic currents.
Earlier reporting from international outlets confirmed that search teams initially located one of the missing soldiers in the ocean, while efforts continued for several days to locate the second before the final recovery was confirmed. Reuters reported that Moroccan and U.S. forces worked jointly throughout the operation, using coordinated maritime and aerial assets.
Similarly, CBS News reported that the search operation was officially concluded after both soldiers were accounted for, shifting focus to repatriation and investigation procedures. The scale of the effort underscored the challenges of operating in rugged coastal terrain during multinational exercises.
Additional coverage from The Associated Press noted that the soldiers disappeared during off-duty hours, with early indications suggesting an accidental fall into the Atlantic near steep cliffs outside the training zone.
A separate report by New York Post highlighted that search teams had been operating across an estimated 12,000 square kilometers of coastal and inland terrain in the days following the incident, reflecting the scale of the multinational response.
Repatriation underway as African Lion exercise continues
With both service members now recovered, military officials said remains are being returned to the United States while the broader African Lion exercise continues across Morocco and other participating nations. Leaders from both countries praised the coordination of search teams and expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.
African Lion, conducted annually since 2004, remains one of the largest U.S.-led exercises on the African continent, designed to strengthen interoperability between partner forces. Despite the tragic incident, officials emphasized the continued importance of the exercise in supporting regional security cooperation.
Investigators are expected to release additional findings once the review of the incident is complete, including how the soldiers came to be in the hazardous cliffside area during off-duty time.
