Moroccan and US military personnel conducted the Morocco Mantlet 2026 exercise from September 15 to 26 near Al Wahda Dam, Morocco’s largest dam, in the Mjaara area near Ouazzane.
The field exercise brought together military and civilian partners from Morocco and the United States for specialized training focused on disaster preparedness and emergency response.
According to the US Embassy in Rabat, the exercise brought Morocco together with the Utah National Guard under the State Partnership Program, which is overseen by the US Department of War. The exercise builds on more than two decades of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The training covered search-and-rescue operations, firefighting, medical response and preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, the same source said. The participants also tested modern technologies as part of the exercise. Together, the drills strengthened coordination and interoperability between the two militaries, further developing the long-standing Morocco-US partnership.
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According to the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the exercise also brought together Moroccan and international experts specializing in natural disaster management, along with representatives of several national agencies and government departments.
A US delegation led by Brig. Gen. Chris Buckner, deputy commander of the Utah Air National Guard, followed the exercise at Al Wahda Dam in Mjaara. Representatives from 12 countries also attended as observers.
