Doha – A joint Moroccan-American WMD defense exercise unfolded Tuesday at Agadir’s military port. The training was part of African Lion 2025, executed under the instructions of King Mohammed VI, who also serves as the Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces.
The counter-WMD exercise focused on reconnaissance operations, neutralization of improvised weapons of mass destruction, radiological dispersal devices, and CBRN decontamination.
Preparing for timely decision-making during sensitive operations
It aimed to enhance the operational capabilities of the Royal Armed Forces’ Rescue and Salvage Unit to handle crises involving radiological, chemical, and explosive threats.
The exercise scenario began with securing Agadir port upon arrival of a suspicious vessel transporting WMD materials. Moroccan and Ghanaian special forces performed a maritime assault to secure the ship. Their inspection revealed clandestine laboratories and chemical agent containers in various compartments.
CBRN and EOD teams deployed drones and specialized equipment to assess and neutralize threats. Simultaneously, Royal Navy divers inspected the hull for potential explosive devices. Defense Threat Reduction Agency experts supervised technical reconnaissance and recommended specific measures for chemical agent management.
The USS CBRN team orchestrated decontamination operations, triage, medical care, and evacuated victims by air and land for necessary treatment.
The exercise transpired in the presence of Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the Southern Zone, and Brigadier General Daniel Cederman, Deputy Commanding General-Reserve of the US Army Southern European Task Force-Africa.
US Space Forces Europe – Space Forces Africa significantly expanded its support for this year’s exercise. They provided nine days of academics compared to just one day for last year’s African Lion exercise.
SPACEFOREUR-AF personnel delivered six days of Space-Electronic Warfare academic lessons, totaling over 30 hours of instruction for 30 Moroccan Royal Armed Forces students.
The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 109th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron implemented a two-day live demonstration of the Night Owl Electromagnetic Support System. This hands-on training showed Moroccan forces how EW systems function in operational scenarios.
The academic phase concluded with a presentation on the Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking program, or TacSRT, by Tech. Sgt. Anson Monestime, a space operations NCO participating in the exercise.
TacSRT, developed by Space Systems Command, leverages commercial vendors to deliver rapid, mission-relevant products through the Global Data Marketplace.
“Our goal here is to show how commercial space-derived and fused information can directly support operations, especially disaster response operations,” said Monestime.
“Using TacSRT, we demonstrated how to fuse fully shareable operational planning products, change detection and AI-analyzed social media feeds to support timely decision-making,” said Col. Galen Ojala, SPACEFOREUR-AF Director of Operations.
Beyond combat situations
In addition to military operations, the Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Medical Group established a humanitarian civic assistance program near the rural town of Anzi. Operating from a fully functional field hospital, US military dentists provided essential care to local Moroccans who often live hours from medical facilities.
“The care we’re providing is mostly fillings and extractions,” said US Air Force Maj. Kyle Sansom, assigned to the 151st Medical Group. “If a tooth is restorable, we’ll do a filling. But if it’s infected or broken down, we must extract it. It may seem simple, but to someone in pain, it can be life-changing.”
African Lion 2025 began on May 12 and is scheduled to run until May 23. The exercises are taking place in Agadir, Tan-Tan, Tiznit, Kenitra, Benguerir, and Tifnit regions. This 21st edition also includes humanitarian and social actions.
The multinational exercise brings together 41 countries and approximately 10,000 US service members. It features integrated training in airdrop, airlift, close air support, aeromedical evacuation, and advanced space and Electronic Warfare operations across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.
The exercise aims to strengthen military cooperation between Morocco and the United States. It develops interoperability and enhances intervention capabilities in a multinational context, contributing to regional security, peace, and stability.
Read also: African Lion 25: US Officials Exalt Morocco’s Cornerstone Partnership
