UK special forces leaders concealed war crimes in Afghanistan, inquiry reveals

A former senior officer in the United Kingdoms special forces has told a public inquiry that top commanders concealed potential war crimes committed in Afghanistan. The officer alleged that two past directors of Britains special forces ignored reports of soldiers unlawfully killing civilians more than a decade ago, according to evidence released on Monday.

The testimony suggested that senior commanders were aware of suspected executions as early as 2011 but deliberately chose not to report them to military police. This inaction may have allowed such killings to continue for at least two more years, raising concerns about accountability in one of the worlds most elite military units.

Identified only as N1466 to protect his identity, the officer was among the highest-ranking members of UK special forces. He stated that he submitted what he described as explosive evidence of criminal conduct by Special Air Service (SAS) troops operating in Afghanistan.

N1466 recalled first becoming alarmed in early 2011 after reviewing reports showing a disturbing pattern. During one operation, nine Afghan men were killed, yet only three weapons were found. He also reported hearing soldiers boast during training about targeting all adult males during operations, regardless of any threat.

The officer claimed he passed his findings to the director of special forces, highlighting the strong likelihood of criminal activity. Instead of notifying investigators, the director initiated an internal review of tactics, which N1466 dismissed as a superficial attempt to suppress the issue.

When a new director assumed command in 2012, the concerning patterns persisted. That year, two parents were killed in their home during a night raid in Nimruz province, and their infant sons were severely injured. This incident was never reported to the police.

N1466 said he eventually approached military police in 2015 but regretted not acting sooner. Those who died unnecessarily from that point onwards, including the two toddlers shot beside their parents, might have been spared if the allegations had been addressed properly, he stated.

The ongoing investigation is examining whether approximately 80 Afghan civilians were unlawfully killed by British forces between 2010 and 2013. The probe, launched in 2023 after a BBC documentary exposed that one SAS squadron had killed 54 people under suspicious circumstances in just six months, continues.

Johnny Mercer, the UKs former veterans minister, told BBC Radio 4 that the disclosure process must be conducted fairly. We wont achieve justice by selectively releasing information to fit a particular narrative, Mercer said. Despite prior military police inquiries, no charges have been filed, and the inquiry remains active.

Author: Sophia Brooks