A search team recovered the body of a US soldier who went missing near a cliff during a training exercise in Cap Draa, Morocco, the US Army said on Sunday. The soldier was reported missing on 2 May after falling from a cliff during the exercise.

Body Found Near Location of Disappearance

Moroccan searchers found the remains on Saturday in the water within a mile (1.6km) of where the soldier went missing on 2 May, the army said in a statement. The search team worked closely with Moroccan authorities to locate the body.

The army identified the soldier as 1st Lt Kendrick Lamont Key Jr, a platoon leader in an artillery unit, while Key Jr was serving with a group of US military personnel conducting a training exercise as part of a larger multinational operation.

Second Soldier Still Missing

A second soldier remains missing and search operations are continuing, according to the army; the US military has deployed additional search and rescue teams to assist in the ongoing effort to locate the second individual.

The US service members were participating in African Lion, the US Africa Command’s largest joint exercise among US forces, Nato allies and African partner nations, but African Lion is a recurring exercise designed to enhance military cooperation and readiness across the region.

Large-Scale Exercise Involving 5,000 Personnel

The largest part of the exercise takes place in Morocco, involving approximately 5,000 personnel from more than 40 countries, according to the US Africa Command (Africom). The multinational force includes units from the US, several NATO allies, and African partner nations, all working together in a coordinated training environment.

According to an army spokesperson. The recovery of the body of 1st Lt Key Jr brings some closure to the military community but the focus remains on locating the second missing soldier. The army expressed gratitude to Moroccan authorities for their assistance in the search and recovery operations.