The remains of the second U.S. Army soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered, the Army said Wednesday, ending a multinational search operation that deployed air, naval and artificial intelligence assets. The soldier was identified as Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington of Tavares, Fla., the U.S. military Europe and Africa said in a statement. She was 19 years old.

Details of the Soldier and Circumstances

“Royal Moroccan Armed Forces transported the Soldier’s remains by a Moroccan helicopter to the morgue of Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim, Morocco,” the statement said. Collington served as an air and missile defense crewmember and was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said.

Collington entered the Regular Army’s Delayed Entry Program in 2023 before beginning active-duty service in 2024. She completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, as a 14P air and missile defense crewmember. She reported to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, in Ansbach, Germany, in February 2025 and was to specialist on May 1, 2026.

Context of the Exercise and Humanitarian Efforts

The announcement came days after the military said the remains of another soldier, 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, had been recovered. The two soldiers fell off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike in Morocco. Their remains are en route to the United States.

A spokesperson for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa told The Associated Press that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

Meanwhile, more than 100 U.S. military personnel are working alongside Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces to deliver medical services to over 20,000 patients in Taroudant and Dakhla during this year’s exercise. In Dakhla, the program marks the first time such humanitarian activities have been carried out in the region. U.S. and Moroccan medical teams collaborated to provide a range of services, including dental hygiene awareness sessions, distribution of oral care kits for children, and ophthalmological consultations.

The initiative also included the provision of eyeglasses and hygiene kits for schoolchildren. “For the first time in our historic partnership, African Lion has come to Dakhla,” Buchan said, noting the scale of cooperation between U.S. and Moroccan military medical teams. The Dakhla mission represents a significant step in expanding the humanitarian dimension of African Lion into southern regions.

Historical and Strategic Context

Buchan emphasized longstanding bilateral ties, describing the initiative as a reflection of “250 years of friendship” between the two countries. He also reiterated U.S. support for Morocco, framing the exercise as part of broader cooperation spanning security and development.

African Lion is the largest U.S. military exercise on the continent, bringing together participants from more than 40 countries. For over two decades, Morocco has played a central role in hosting and shaping the exercise, reflecting its status as a major non-NATO ally of the United States and a key partner in promoting regional stability.

This year’s edition includes expanded training programs and the integration of advanced technologies aimed at strengthening participating countries’ ability to respond to evolving security challenges.