An inquiry into the actions of British Special Forces (UKSF) during the Afghanistan conflict has revealed serious allegations of war crimes, including extrajudicial killings and efforts to cover up these unlawful actions. The investigation, commissioned by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2022, focuses on the Special Air Service (SAS) and their operations between 2010 and 2013. Testimonies from several UKSF personnel describe how unarmed Afghan civilians, including minors, were killed during night-time raids, often without posing any immediate threat. Some soldiers testified that all fighting-age males were killed, regardless of their level of involvement in combat. The inquiry highlights disturbing accounts of victims being executed in compounds, with some soldiers describing methods such as shooting victims after placing a pillow over their heads.

In addition to these shocking allegations, the inquiry has uncovered evidence of a systematic cover-up by British Special Forces. Documents and emails submitted to the investigation show that officers raised concerns about the conduct of SAS soldiers, but these concerns were often dismissed or suppressed by senior military leadership. In one instance, an officer questioned whether SAS soldiers were deliberately setting up situations to justify killings, such as ordering detainees to retrieve weapons before shooting them. Despite these concerns, SAS operations continued with little scrutiny, and there were reports of officers manipulating evidence, including staging photos to suggest that the victims had been armed when they were not. Witnesses also spoke of a culture within the SAS where questioning their actions was discouraged and support staff who raised doubts were reprimanded.

The implications of these findings are far-reaching, with many drawing comparisons to similar accusations against U.S. special forces during the Afghan conflict. The inquiry is expected to shed light on potential war crimes committed by British forces and the military’s role in covering them up. Despite previous investigations by British military police that found insufficient evidence for prosecution, the MoD has declined to comment further, awaiting the results of the ongoing inquiry. The allegations have raised serious questions about the accountability of elite military units and the broader political fallout of these potential war crimes.