Here’s the latest update I can share based on recent reporting:
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A U.S. Army soldier who went missing during African Lion 2026 in Morocco has been recovered. First Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. was found by Moroccan search teams in the Atlantic Ocean near the coastline on May 9, 2026. This confirms the recovery of one of the two missing servicemembers, with search efforts for the second soldier continuing.[1][3][4]
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The incident occurred after two soldiers reportedly went missing off the Cap Draa Training Area near Tan-Tan while off duty. A multinational search and rescue operation involving hundreds of personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and partner nations was mobilized, using ships, helicopters, drones, and ground teams.[7][9][1]
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Official statements indicate the recovered service member is 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., assigned to the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. The Department of Defense has not publicly confirmed the status of the second missing soldier, and search activities were described as ongoing as of May 10, 2026.[3][6][1]
Illustrative context:
- African Lion 2026 is described as a large multinational exercise involving U.S., Moroccan, and NATO partner forces, with participants engaged across training areas, coastal zones, and air domains; the incident underscores the hazards associated with cliff and coastal environments during off-duty activities.[4][6][9]
If you’d like, I can pull more detailed timelines or summarize official statements from the U.S. Army or Moroccan authorities, and I can provide live links to the latest coverage. Would you like me to do that?
Citations:
- Details of the recovery and identities after the incident:.[1][3][4]
- Description of search efforts and the exercise context:.[9][7][1]
- Ongoing status of the second missing soldier as of May 10, 2026:.[6][3]
Sources
The United States army has confirmed the recovery of the body of First Lieutenant Lamont Key Jr., one of two soldiers who disappeared in waters off Morocco's southern coast during activities connected to an annual training exercise. Key was participating in support of African Lion 2026, the largest annual joint military exercise on the African continent, led by US Africa Command (AFRICOM). The incident occurred just over a week prior near the Cap Draa Training Area, close to the coastal city...
en.royanews.tvUS Army says 1st Lt Kendrick Lamont Key Jr was recovered off Morocco after African Lion exercises; multinational teams continue search for second soldier.
www.goodreturns.inOne of the two U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during a training exercise in Morocco earlier this month has been found by that country's military, the Army said on Sunday. The soldier whose body was found was identified as First Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, of Richmond, Va. A search team fou
www.wsj.com1st. Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. with the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment went missing on May 2 during the African Lion 26 exercise.
taskandpurpose.comThe remains were those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., who was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty.
www.politico.comSearch and rescue efforts were still underway Tuesday after two U.S. Army soldiers went missing in the ocean off Morocco's southern coast over the weekend while off duty during a training exercise.
www.cbsnews.comSearch and rescue efforts were still underway Tuesday after two U.S. Army soldiers went missing in the ocean off Morocco's southern coast over the weekend while off duty during a training exercise.
www.cbsnews.com1st Lt Kendrick Lamont Key Jr was participating in largest military exercise among US, Nato allies and African nations
www.theguardian.comThe remains of a U.S. soldier missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered in the Atlantic Ocean
www.usnews.com