The Moroccan and US armies will kickoff Monday the African Lion 2022 (AL22) maneuvers in several cities across Morocco with the participation of 18 other countries.

The maneuvers will involve about 7,500 army personnel from Morocco, the US, and several allied countries and will also be partially held in Tunisia, Senegal, and Ghana.

A statement issued by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces said the exercises will take place from June 20-30 in the regions of Kenitra, Agadir, Tan Tan, Taroudant, and Mahbes.

"The inclusion of Mahbes as one of the locations for the military drilling mirrors the US position in supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara," the Morocco World News website pointed out.

According to the statement, the African Lion maneuvers will include the participation of military observers from about 30 countries in Africa and the world.

The official website of the US Army quoted Maj. James Guglielmi as saying that the “AL22 is the premiere joint multinational exercise in the AFRICOM area of responsibility,” adding that “it is going to be better and bigger than last year, and will be the best exercise to date.”

The AL22 "functions as a platform to support interoperability between partner nations as well as increase the U.S. influence in North Africa and the Sahel," the US Army website pointed out.

It is noteworthy that the US and France are Morocco’s main suppliers of military equipment.