African Lion 2023: Exercise in Agadir to test FAR rescue & salvage unit’s responsiveness to WMD attack

As part of Moroccan-US cooperation in disaster management, a synthetic exercise on the fight against weapons of mass destruction (WMD) took place on Thursday in Agadir to assess the responsiveness of the Royal Armed Forces’ Rescue and Salvage Unit (USS-FAR) to deal with a crisis situation involving nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical (NRBC) risks.

This operation is part of the combined Moroccan-US exercise African Lion 2023, which is being held in accordance with the instructions of the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the FAR, Lieutenant Mahdi Techbibi of the USS-FAR told MAP.

The aim of the exercise, which took place on a football pitch at the headquarters of the Southern Zone General Staff, was to assess the response and reactivity capabilities of the FAR USS in the face of a CBRN attack, in close cooperation with American players in the field of Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, Chemical and Explosive (NRBCE) response, he explained.

During the exercise, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from the FAR USS carried out a preliminary reconnaissance using robots and sophisticated equipment to locate the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) safely and accurately.

This was followed by the intervention of a specialized technician (EOD) to neutralize the device, before proceeding with the decontamination operation and air evacuation of responders and victims to the Advanced Medical Post for necessary treatment.

“African Lion” is a combined joint exercise organized each year by the FAR and the US Armed Forces.

African Lion 2023 will run until June 16, in seven regions of Morocco, namely: Agadir, Tan-Tan, Mehbes, Tiznit, Kénitra, Benguerir and Tifnit. The annual event contributes to consolidating Moroccan-US military cooperation, as well as strengthening exchanges between the armed forces of different participating countries with a view to promoting security and stability in the region.