Remains of second US soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered

7 articles

5 sources

0% diversity

Updated 14.5.2026

Key Topics & People

Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. *African Lion Morocco Cap Draa Training Area U.S. Army Europe and Africa

Coverage Framing

Human Interest(4)

National Security(2)

Conflict(1)

Avg Factuality:93%

Avg Sensationalism:Low

Story Timeline

May 14, 2026

1 articles|1 sources

military exercisesmoroccous soldier remainsafrican lionsearch operation

Human Interest(1)

The Guardian - World NewsMay 14

Remains of second US soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered

The remains of Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, a 19-year-old US Army soldier, have been recovered in Morocco, concluding a multinational search operation. She went missing during an off-duty recreational hike with another soldier, 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., whose remains were recovered days earlier. Both soldiers fell off a cliff. Collington was assigned to the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Germany. The incident occurred after they participated in the African Lion military exercise. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are currently under investigation.

MeasuredFactual2 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

Remains of second US soldier, Spc Mariyah Symone Collington, missing during military exercises in Morocco, have been recovered.

— US Army Europe and Africa

factual

The soldiers went missing on May 2nd after participating in the multinational military exercise African Lion.

— US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

factual

African Lion is the largest US joint military exercise in Africa, involving over 7,000 personnel from more than 30 nations.

— article

factual

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

— US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

factual

The two soldiers, Spc Mariyah Symone Collington and 1st Lt Kendrick Lamont Key Jr, fell off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike in Morocco.

— article

May 11, 2026

1 articles|1 sources

military exercisesmoroccomissing soldierafrican lionsearch and rescue

Human Interest(1)

Fox News - WorldMay 11

Remains recovered of US soldier who went missing in military exercises in Morocco, 2nd soldier still missing

The remains of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. have been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean in Morocco, where he went missing during military exercises. Key, 27, was one of two soldiers who reportedly fell from a cliff during an off-duty hike near the Cap Draa Training Area on May 2. His remains were found Saturday, approximately one mile from where the soldiers were last seen. A search is ongoing for the second missing soldier. Both soldiers disappeared after participating in the multinational military exercise African Lion. The recovery and ongoing search involve personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and other military partners.

MeasuredFactual3 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

Remains of U.S. Army officer 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. recovered from Atlantic Ocean in Morocco.

— U.S. Army Europe and Africa

factual

Key went missing during military exercises in Morocco, along with a second soldier who is still missing.

— military officials

factual

A search-and-rescue mission involving over 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and other partners was deployed.

— article

quote

Brig. Gen Curtis King expressed condolences and support for the family of 1st Lt. Kendrick Key.

— Brig. Gen Curtis King

factual

The two soldiers reportedly fell from a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near Cap Draa Training Area on May 2.

— article

May 10, 2026

2 articles|2 sources

moroccous soldierafrican lion military exerciseus soldier remains recoveredus army

Human Interest(2)

The Guardian - World NewsMay 10

Body of missing US soldier recovered off coast of Morocco

The body of US Army 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., who went missing during a training exercise in Cap Draa, Morocco, has been recovered. Moroccan searchers found his remains on Saturday within a mile of where he disappeared on May 2nd. Key was a platoon leader participating in African Lion, a large joint military exercise involving US forces, NATO allies, and African partner nations. A second soldier remains missing, and search operations are ongoing. The exercise, which involves approximately 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries, is primarily conducted in Morocco.

MeasuredFactual1 source

Negative

Associated Press (AP)May 10

Remains of US soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered

The remains of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., who went missing during military exercises in Morocco, were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean on May 9th. Key, 27, was one of two soldiers who fell off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area on May 2nd. A large-scale search and rescue operation involving over 600 personnel from multiple nations was initiated following their disappearance. Military teams are continuing to search for the second missing soldier. Key was an Air Defense Artillery officer assigned to the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

MeasuredFactual2 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

Body of a US soldier missing during a training exercise in Morocco has been recovered.

— US Army

factual

The soldier, identified as 1st Lt Kendrick Lamont Key Jr, went missing on May 2nd.

— US Army

factual

Moroccan searchers found the remains within a mile of where the soldier went missing.

— US Army

factual

A second US soldier remains missing following the training exercise.

— US Army

factual

The US service members were participating in African Lion, a joint military exercise.

— US Army

May 3, 2026

3 articles|3 sources

search and rescuemilitary exercisesmoroccous service members missingregional security

National Security(2)

BBC News - WorldMay 3

Two US service members reported missing in Morocco, officials say

Two U.S. service members have been reported missing during the African Lion 2026 military exercises in Morocco. The U.S. African Command (Africom) stated they were last seen on Saturday near the Cap Draa Training Area, close to Tan Tan. A multinational search and rescue operation, utilizing ground, air, and maritime assets from the U.S., Morocco, and other participating nations, is actively underway. African Lion is an annual joint exercise involving approximately 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries, aimed at enhancing regional security and multinational coordination. The incident is currently under investigation, with Africom prioritizing the missing service members and their families.

MeasuredFactual2 sources

Negative

The Guardian - World NewsMay 3

Two US service members missing after military exercises in Morocco

Two U.S. service members are missing in southwestern Morocco following annual multinational military exercises. The incident occurred on May 2nd near the Cap Draa training area, close to the Atlantic Ocean, during the African Lion exercise, which involves the U.S., Morocco, and other nations. A search and rescue operation has been launched by the U.S., Morocco, and participating countries. The African Lion exercise, the largest U.S. annual joint military exercise in Africa, aims to strengthen regional security cooperation and enhance participating forces' readiness. The U.S. Africa Command stated that the incident is under investigation and the search is ongoing.

MeasuredFactual1 source

Negative

Conflict(1)

Al JazeeraMay 3

US military says two service members taking part in Morocco drills missing

Two US service members participating in the multinational African Lion military exercise in southwestern Morocco have been reported missing. The incident occurred on Saturday near the Cap Draa Training Area, close to Tan Tan. The US military's African Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the situation on Sunday and stated that search and rescue operations are actively underway. These operations involve ground, air, and maritime assets from the US, Morocco, and other participating nations. The African Lion exercise is the largest annual joint military drill the US conducts in Africa, aimed at enhancing interoperability and readiness for crises. The cause of the disappearance is currently under investigation.

MeasuredFactual1 source

Negative

Key Claims

factual

Two US service members have gone missing during military exercises in Morocco.

— US African Command (Africom)

factual

The missing Americans were participating in African Lion 2026, an annual joint exercise designed to strengthen operations between US forces, Nato allies, and African nations.

— officials

factual

A search and rescue mission involving ground, air, and maritime resources from the US, Morocco and other countries is underway.

— officials

statistic

African Lion 2026 involves 5,000 personnel from over 40 countries and more than 30 US-based industry partners.

factual

The service members were reported missing on Saturday near the Cap Draa Training Area.

— Africom