International

Former UK Special Forces veterans expose decade of alleged unlawful killings in Iraq and Afghanistan

Monday, 12 May 2025 5:02AM UTC

Veterans of Britain’s elite forces have revealed harrowing accounts of extrajudicial killings, including the execution of unarmed detainees and minors, prompting an expanded inquiry into alleged war crimes stretching beyond current investigations.

Former members of the UK Special Forces have come forward to share harrowing accounts of alleged war crimes committed by their colleagues during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Speaking to BBC Panorama, these veterans have revealed shocking incidents that include the murder of unarmed individuals and the execution of detainees, including minors. One veteran recounted a chilling episode in which a young boy, clearly non-threatening, was handcuffed and shot. "Killing detainees became routine," he stated, emphasising the grave moral and legal breaches occurring within the ranks of Britain’s most elite armed forces.

The allegations extend over a decade and encompass systematic extrajudicial killings that surpass the three years currently under examination by a judicial inquiry in the UK. Notably, the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service (SBS) is implicated for the first time, with first-person accounts of their troops engaging in similarly barbaric behaviours. A former SBS operator described a "mob mentality" amongst his peers, claiming he witnessed some soldiers exhibit “serious psychopathic traits” during operations, feeling emboldened and above the law. This deeply unsettling behaviour occurred against a backdrop of considerable peril for UK forces in the region, where 457 British service members lost their lives.

Eyewitnesses detailed that the laws of war—which permit lethal measures only when facing immediate threats—were routinely disregarded. "If a target had showed up more than once, we'd go in with the intent to kill," shared a SAS veteran, detailing the shift from capturing suspects to executing them. This trend of executing detainees has raised profound concerns, not just about moral integrity but about the structural and operational culture of the UK Special Forces. Reports have surfaced of injuries inflicted on seemingly harmless individuals and a general expectation among soldiers that civilians would be executed without hesitation.

The Ministry of Defence has responded to these appalling claims, reaffirming its commitment to the ongoing inquiry but refraining from commenting on specific allegations. This inquiry, which has gained momentum following long-standing public concern and investigative reporting by BBC Panorama, aims to clarify a series of troubling incidents where British forces allegedly took the lives of civilians, including children. An independent investigation has also been initiated, addressing claims of unlawful killings during counterinsurgency operations between 2010 and 2013, with families claiming that over 80 unarmed Afghan nationals were killed in suspicious circumstances.

The evidence presented not only includes eyewitness accounts but also recorded operational videos, showing SAS personnel counting their kills, further suggesting a culture of violence and a competitive spirit surrounding lethal engagements. One SAS soldier's notorious record included multiple killings over a six-month deployment, raising questions about individual accountability when these actions reflect a broader operational ethos.

Legal challenges prompted by affected families have revealed troubling patterns, including accusations that military personnel and their commanding officers engaged in deliberate obfuscation of facts. Reports were allegedly manipulated to suggest military engagement involved hostile acts, despite photographic evidence showing the stark reality of executed individuals bearing no arms. Previously, police investigations by the Royal Military Police culminated without any prosecutions, leaving families desperate to uncover the truth surrounding the deaths of their loved ones.

Concerns regarding oversight and responsibility extend to high-ranking officials, including former Prime Minister David Cameron, who was made aware of allegations concerning civilian deaths yet allegedly failed to act decisively. Former Afghan officials have indicated that these claims were frequently raised in high-level discussions, suggesting a troubling complicity or neglect at the state level.

In the wake of these testimonials and revelations, there is a pressing call for accountability. Former officials and legal experts hope that the current inquiry will delve into the extent of knowledge surrounding these operations and the systemic failures to uphold international law. With deep-rooted issues of secrecy and a culture of impunity highlighted, the inquiry represents a critical opportunity to reckon with the past actions of UK Special Forces and the enduring impact on the lives of those affected.

The unfolding story reflects not just on individual conduct but on the very fabric of military ethics and legal adherence, urging a re-examination of the rules of engagement imposed on those who serve in theatres of conflict. As the inquiry continues, it may well set a precedent for how military operations are scrutinised and how past transgressions are faced.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3j5gxgz0do - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://apnews.com/article/b33ea8cb9b162431c418eae39623baa3 - An independent inquiry has commenced at the Royal Courts of Justice in London to investigate claims that British special forces killed dozens of Afghan men unlawfully during counterinsurgency operations between 2010 and 2013. The families of the deceased assert that those killed were innocent civilians and are urging the inquiry to reveal the truth. Allegations include instances where victims were shot while unarmed in their sleep. The inquiry will examine submissions related to 33 individuals, including eight children. Lawyers representing the families argue that over 80 Afghans were killed under suspicious conditions, suggesting a pattern of extrajudicial killings. The inquiry also aims to hold accountable those who may have attempted to hide these actions. Previous investigations by the Royal Military Police into these allegations resulted in no prosecutions. The inquiry was triggered by legal challenges from affected families and revelations from a BBC investigative program. British forces were deeply involved in Afghanistan from 2001 until their withdrawal in 2021.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66106980 - The Ministry of Defence has confirmed for the first time that UK Special Forces are at the centre of a war crimes inquiry. The MoD on Wednesday abandoned an effort to restrict any mention of Special Forces' involvement in alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. The inquiry follows years of reporting into alleged SAS unlawful killings. In a statement ahead of a hearing of the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "The inquiry is now reaching the stage of substantive hearings, and I can confirm that the allegations relate to the conduct of UK Special Forces." The decision to confirm the involvement of Special Forces units in operations under scrutiny from the inquiry reverses the position previously held by the MoD. A long-running investigation by the BBC uncovered evidence clearly indicating that one SAS unit operating in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011 killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances in one six-month tour. Further reporting by the BBC uncovered specific cases that caused concern at the highest level of UK Special Forces, including a 2012 raid in which a different unit killed two parents and gravely wounded their two infant boys. The MoD is still pursuing a request for all Special Forces personnel involved in the operations in Afghanistan to automatically be granted anonymity, and for all witness evidence about the operations themselves to be held in closed hearings, away from both the bereaved families and the public. The MoD's lawyer, Brian Altman KC, also said that the ministry intended to keep in place its "neither confirm nor deny" policy in relation to naming specific UK Special Forces units or sub-units, arguing that the identification of "particular force elements" would pose a risk to future capabilities and operations.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk-special-forces-soldiers-tell-inquiry-afghan-murder-concerns-2025-01-08/ - Soldiers from British special forces have testified in a public inquiry about their concerns that non-threatening Afghans, including minors under 16, were killed during raids against suspected Taliban insurgents. The inquiry was ordered by the UK's Ministry of Defence following a BBC documentary that reported 54 suspicious killings by the SAS in Afghanistan over a decade ago. The inquiry is examining raids conducted from mid-2010 to mid-2013. One soldier, N1799, raised concerns in 2011 about UKSF1, a unit that reportedly killed "all fighting age males" regardless of the threat they posed. Several senior officers took these concerns seriously. Another soldier, N2107, expressed disbelief at operational reports suggesting detainees picked up weapons and attacked the unit after seemingly being released, believing UKSF1 might have committed extra-judicial killings. The inquiry aims to determine if there was credible evidence of unlawful killings and if they were covered up, and to review the military police investigations into these allegations. Despite feeling disloyal and fearing for his safety, N1799 believes he did the right thing by speaking out.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50435474 - On 18 October 2012, a UK Special Forces soldier shot dead four young people in an Afghan village. Their families say three of them were children. It looks like a war crime but nobody has been prosecuted. Afghan witnesses describe how 12-year-old Ahmad Shah and 14-year-old Mohammed Tayeb had decided to stay overnight with 17-year-old Naik Mohammed and his 20-year-old brother, Fazel. At around 20:00 local time, UK and Afghan Special Forces made their way into Loy Bagh village and burst into each of the buildings that made up the family home. One UK soldier went into the single-roomed guest house and opened fire. Sultan Mohammed, older brother of Naik and Fazel, was first on the scene after the special forces left. The four youngsters were shot dead in this single-roomed guest house. "When I entered the room I saw bones and teeth all over the place. I couldn't believe it," he said. "I couldn't believe that a soldier could do this." The soldier who killed the boys had reportedly claimed to detectives that he acted in self-defence. He told them he shot two of the four because they were pointing weapons from the window, and he shot at the other two when they appeared out of the shadows. But the boys' families say that cannot be true. They say none of the four had weapons and that they could not have posed a threat to the heavily armed UK special forces soldier. "All four were drinking tea and were killed while they were sitting," said Naik and Fazel's older brother, Sultan Mohammed. Sultan Mohammed was the first person to go into the guest house after the soldiers left. Photos obtained by Panorama show the bullet holes in the mud wall of the room. Most of the shots entered the walls approximately two feet off the ground, supporting the family's version of events. RMP detectives wanted the soldier to be charged with four counts of murder. They also wanted to prosecute the officer who commanded the raid for falsifying a report, along with his boss for perverting the course of justice. These were some of the most senior officers in the UK's special forces. They were accused of covering up an incident in which children were killed. Military prosecutors decided not to bring charges and, in 2017, the government announced Operation Northmoor was to be wound down. But when Panorama showed the evidence it had gathered to the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, Lord Ken MacDonald, he said the case should be re-examined.
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/nov/17/british-government-army-accused-covering-up-war-crimes-afghanistan-iraq - The government closed IHAT and Operation Northmoor in 2017, after Phil Shiner, a solicitor who had taken more than 1,000 cases to IHAT, was struck off from practising law amid allegations he had paid people in Iraq to find clients. But some former IHAT and Operation Northmoor investigators said Shiner’s actions were used as an excuse to close down the inquiries. No case investigated by IHAT or Operation Northmoor has led to a prosecution. An IHAT detective told Panorama: “The Ministry of Defence had no intention of prosecuting any soldier of whatever rank he was unless it was absolutely necessary, and they couldn’t wriggle their way out of it.” The year-long investigation claims to have found evidence of murders by an SAS soldier, as well as deaths in custody, beatings, torture and sexual abuse of detainees by members of the Black Watch. A senior SAS commander was referred to prosecutors for attempting to pervert the course of justice, the investigation claims. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Allegations that the MoD interfered with investigations or prosecution decisions relating to the conduct of UK forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are untrue.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The article discusses ongoing investigations and recent revelations, indicating it is based on current events. However, the allegations span over a decade, so some information may be older.

Quotes check

Score: 6

Notes: Direct quotes are provided, but no specific original sources are identified. The quotes are likely from recent interviews or statements, as they relate to the current inquiry.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from BBC News, which is a well-known and reputable source. The BBC is known for its investigative journalism and fact-checking standards.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims are plausible given the context of military operations and the ongoing inquiry. However, some details cannot be verified without additional evidence.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative appears to be based on recent investigations and reputable sources, increasing its credibility. While some details lack verification, the context and ongoing inquiries support the plausibility of the claims.

UK Special Forces
War crimes
Iraq
Afghanistan
Military inquiry
BBC Panorama