African Lion 2026 drills begin academic phase in Morocco's Agadir

More than 400 multinational troops have gathered in southern Morocco to take part in the academic phase of African Lion 2026, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

The training is being held at the Southern Zone headquarters in Agadir from April 20 to May 1, bringing together personnel from several partner nations for a series of intensive courses ahead of field exercises.

According to the United States Armed Forces, the academic phase includes 22 courses focused on emerging military capabilities such as unmanned aerial systems, cyber defense and satellite operations, before transitioning to combat simulations.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Kev Mertau said the academic component is a critical foundation for subsequent operational training.

“The program is designed to enhance technical expertise, accelerate decision-making and improve operational effectiveness across all domains,” he said.

Courses range from basic instruction to advanced operational planning, with specialized modules covering areas such as space operations, electromagnetic warfare and cyber operations.

First Lt. Mason Elizondo said the cyber training emphasizes identifying and countering digital threats across multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux and cloud environments, while also sharing best practices in cybersecurity.

Participants are also engaging in joint learning with Moroccan counterparts, highlighting the collaborative nature of the exercise.

“The partners are highly skilled and knowledgeable. We’re not just teaching — we’re learning from them as well,” Elizondo said.

Maj. Travis Herman added that training alongside allied forces helps build readiness and shared operational understanding.

Officials said the integration of academic instruction with multinational cooperation is aimed at strengthening deterrence, validating innovative approaches and enhancing long-term defense capabilities among partner nations.