Trending Now - Missing U.S. Soldier's Remains Found in Morocco

WHO:

Fox News - Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, stated, "Today, we mourn the loss of 1st Lt. Kendrick Key, whose remains were recovered in Morocco. Our hearts are with his Family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him."

ABC News - 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer.

ABC News - 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

ABC News - Key's decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

ABC News - 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old Air Defense Artillery officer, was one of the two U.S. soldiers missing.

ABC News - The U.S. Army Europe and Africa provided statements regarding the recovery of the remains.

ABC News - A U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, provided information about the ongoing search efforts.

WHAT:

ABC News - The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. were recovered on May 9, 2026, at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time.

Fox News - The search-and-rescue operation involved more than 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and other military partners, deploying ships, helicopters, and drones.

NPR - The U.S. Army Europe and Africa stated that a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the military exercises ended to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations.

ABC News - The African Lion 26 exercise involved more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations, making it the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa since 2004.

CBS News - The Moroccan military recovered the body of one of the two U.S. soldiers who went missing on May 2.

ABC News - The search operation will continue for the second missing soldier, as confirmed by a U.S. defense official.

ABC News - The African Lion 26 exercise involved more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations.

ABC News - The African Lion exercise is the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa since 2004.

ABC News - The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean.

ABC News - The two soldiers went missing during a recreational hike while off duty.

ABC News - A search-and-rescue operation involved more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco, and other military partners.

ABC News - The Moroccan military found the soldier's remains at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9.

WHERE:

The Guardian - The remains were found in the Atlantic Ocean, within a mile of where the soldier went missing near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco.

The Guardian - The soldiers went missing near a cliff at the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco, a terrain characterized by mountains, desert, and semi-desert plains.

ABC News - The soldiers went missing near a cliff at the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco.

ABC News - The soldiers went missing near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco.

ABC News - The remains were found along the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean, roughly one mile from where the soldiers reportedly entered the ocean.

WHEN:

ABC News - The two soldiers were reported missing on May 2.

ABC News - The remains were recovered on May 9.

ABC News - The African Lion exercise began in April.

WHY:

CBS News - The soldiers went missing during a recreational hike after participating in the African Lion military exercises.

ABC News - The U.S. service members were participating in African Lion, the U.S. Africa Command’s largest joint exercise among U.S. forces, NATO allies, and African partner nations.

ABC News - The soldiers were participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco.

HOW:

Fox News - The search-and-rescue mission involved more than 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and other military partners, deploying ships, helicopters, and drones.

ABC News - The African Lion exercise involved approximately 5,000 personnel from more than 40 countries.

ABC News - The search operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters, and drones to locate the missing soldiers.

ABC News - A U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the war games ended to provide command and control and continue search and rescue operations.

(UPDATED May 11, 2026 11:54 UTC)

The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean near Tan-Tan, Morocco, following a search-and-rescue operation that involved over 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and other military partners. This operation utilized ships, helicopters, and drones to locate the soldier, who went missing during a recreational hike after participating in the African Lion military exercises. The U.S. Army Europe and Africa confirmed that a U.S. contingent remains in Morocco to provide command and control while continuing the search and rescue efforts.

(UPDATED May 11, 2026 06:13 UTC)

Brigadier General Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, announced the recovery of the remains of 1st Lieutenant Kendrick Key, expressing condolences to his family, friends, and fellow service members. The search-and-rescue mission, which took place near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco, involved over 600 personnel and utilized ships, helicopters, and drones. This operation was part of the African Lion 26 exercise, the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa since 2004, which included more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations.

(UPDATED May 11, 2026 01:30 UTC)

A search operation is ongoing for the second missing soldier near a cliff at the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco, as confirmed by a U.S. defense official. The soldiers were participating in African Lion, the U.S. Africa Command's largest joint exercise, which involves around 5,000 personnel from more than 40 countries. One of the missing soldiers, 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., entered military service in 2023 and earned his commission as an Air Defense Artillery officer in 2024.

(UPDATED May 10, 2026 23:11 UTC)

In a significant military development, 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., who serves with Charlie Battery in the 5th Battalion of the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, has been recognized for his service with decorations including the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Meanwhile, the African Lion 26 exercise, which is the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa since 2004, has seen participation from over 7,000 personnel across more than 30 nations. To support the operation, a comprehensive search effort has been launched, utilizing frigates, vessels, helicopters, and drones to locate the missing soldiers.

(UPDATED May 10, 2026 21:10 UTC)

The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old Air Defense Artillery officer, were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean after he went missing during a recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco. A search-and-rescue operation involving over 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco, and other military partners led to the discovery of his remains along the shoreline, approximately one mile from where he entered the ocean. The Moroccan military found the remains at about 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, following the soldiers' reported disappearance on May 2 while participating in the annual African Lion military exercise.